Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Detectives ask any witnesses to Flamingo carjacking to come forward

Fatal Truck Crash

Metro Police

Jesus Magdaleno, an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer, and Felix Cruz are shown waving their arms in the back of a pickup that police say was stolen from the valet area of the Flamingo on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013. The men suffered fatal injuries when the truck crashed into an SUV at Flamingo Road and Valley View Boulevard.

Click to enlarge photo

An undated photo provided by the California Highway Patrol, shows CHP Officer Jesus Magdaleno Jr., 33, an 8-year-veteran.

Click to enlarge photo

James Robert Montgomery

Metro Police are asking any additional witnesses to an carjacking Sunday at a Strip hotel valet area to come forward.

Two men, including a California Highway Patrol officer, died in the incident.

In a news release issued today, Metro said homicide detectives “are seeking public assistance with any additional witnesses as well as any taxi cabs with video surveillance in the area during the time of the incident.”

Here’s how the carjacking unfolded, according to Metro:

At 10:56 a.m. Sunday, James Montgomery stole a white Ford F-150 from the east valet area of the Flamingo. Felix Cruz was in the bed of the truck loading luggage as it was driven away. Jesus Magdaleno, an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer and Cruz’s brother in-law, jumped into the back of the truck as Cruz was yelling to Magdaleno for help.

Magdaleno identified himself as a police officer and yelled at the driver to stop the vehicle. Several witnesses saw both men waving their arms and yelling for help.

Montgomery ignored the commands and sped through a series of red lights, never stopping or slowing the vehicle enough for Cruz and Magdaleno to jump out of the truck bed. Montgomery collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Valley View Boulevard. Upon impact, Cruz and Magdaleno were ejected. Both died from their injuries.

Anyone with information about the incident can contact Metro’s homicide section at 702-828-3521.

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