Woman who asserted fear of rape in roommate’s shooting held without bail

By Bethany Barnes

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013 | 12:13 p.m.

A 26-year-old woman who reportedly told police she shot her roommate to keep him from raping her was arraigned today in Las Vegas Township Justice Court and was being held without bail.

Mary Elizabeth Pitrello faces felony counts of first-degree murder and discharging a gun within a structure in Thursday’s shooting death of Oliver Doppert at The Falls, a gated condominium community in the 9000 block of Warm Springs Road, near Fort Apache Road.

Doppert was shot through a closed bedroom door as he spoke on the phone, Metro Police reported.

Las Vegas Township Judge Deborah Lippis appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent Pitrello and set a preliminary hearing for 9 a.m. Oct. 1.

A Metro arrest report alleges the following:

After the shooting, Pitrello drove from the condominium complex to the Stratosphere with an acquaintance, who reported the shooting to security as Pitrello waited in a casino bar for police to arrive.

A neighbor called 911 about 9:20 p.m. Thursday to report Doppert had been shot. The neighbor told emergency dispatchers he saw two women — one of them was Pitrello — leave the apartment.

Pitrello, who was carrying a long gun, pointed the firearm at the neighbor and ordered him to return to his apartment. The two left the condominium complex in Doppert’s car.

Emergency dispatchers also received a call from a woman identifying herself as Doppert’s girlfriend. She reported she was on the phone with Doppert at the time of the shooting.

Doppert, the girlfriend reported, told her he’d taken away Pitrello’s keys because Pitrello had been drinking and he didn’t want her to drive.

The girlfriend also said Doppert told her Pitrello had a shotgun and he was afraid she was going to kill him. The girlfriend heard a boom and the sound of Doppert falling to the ground.

After being taken into custody at the Stratosphere, Pitrello reportedly told police Doppert had raped her a week ago and she did not want him to do it again.

Police, however, noted that Pitrello had not reported a sexual assault to police, had continued to live with Doppert and had shared poolside drinks with Doppert and an acquaintance earlier in the evening.