Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

2 dead, 2 critical after shooting at east valley apartment

Shooting

Ricardo Torres-Cortez

Police investigate a shooting late Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017, at the Desert Pines Apartments, 3750 E. Bonanza Road.

Updated Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017 | 11:30 p.m.

Five people were wounded — two fatally and two critically — after a Wednesday night shooting at an east valley apartment complex, according to Metro Police.

Detectives were questioning four persons of interest in a car not far from the crime scene, police officials said. As of late Wednesday, the shooting did not appear to be random or gang-related.

Gunfire erupted about 8 p.m. in the Desert Pines Apartments, 3750 E. Bonanza Road, near Pecos Road, Metro Capt. Robert Plummer said. Officers and medics encountered two bodies and three additional gunshot victims.

The surviving victims were rushed to University Medical Center where two had life-threatening wounds and the third had superficial injuries, Plummer said.

"As of right now, we're still unsure as to what actually occurred or what caused the shooting," Plummer said.

The shooting is believed to have taken place near or inside an apartment, where the deceased were found, Plummer said.

Click to enlarge photo

Police investigate a shooting late Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017, at the Desert Pines Apartments, 3750 E. Bonanza Road.

The five people shot were male and female, from the mid-30s to late 40s, Plummer said. It wasn't clear if there was more than one shooter.

Detectives were questioning at least 11 witnesses and said it would be a while before they determined what exactly transpired. The four being questioned were the ones who called 911, Lt. Dan McGrath said.

Further details were not immediately available.

The scene remained active about 11 p.m. The apartment complex entrance was blocked by officers as red and blue lights flashed inside and outside the gate.

This was the fifth homicide incident — which claimed the ninth and 10th victims — investigated by Metro detectives since Friday morning.

Referencing the violent week, Plummer said Las Vegans have to find better ways to peacefully resolve disputes. "People are too quick to go to guns," he added.