A Las Vegas man allegedly forced his way into his estranged wife's apartment and waited inside for hours before shooting her when she arrived home, authorities said. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene along with the husband, who investigators say turned the gun on himself in what police are investigating as a murder-suicide.
Background
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police responded to the 4900 block of South Nellis Boulevard near Tropicana Avenue after receiving a 911 call from a teenage girl who had just returned home from school with her sister. The caller told dispatchers she found both of her parents shot inside the apartment, according to Lt. Robert Price.
Police arrived at the scene around 3:30 p.m. and discovered both victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers rendered medical aid until paramedics arrived, but both the man and woman were pronounced dead at the location.
"Homicide detectives have been notified and we're currently investigating," Price said during a press conference Monday. "It appears that the husband and wife were both separated and have been for a while."
The couple was reportedly in their mid-30s and had been separated for some time, though investigators have not disclosed further details about the nature of their separation or any prior incidents between them.
The Investigation
According to investigators, the husband had come to the apartment earlier in the day and forced his way inside. He then waited for his wife to arrive home before allegedly shooting her.
"When the mother arrived home, it appears that the husband shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself and shot himself," Price said.
Detectives determined the husband shot his wife before taking his own life, according to an LVMPD press release. The investigation involved crime scene technicians processing evidence and homicide detectives piecing together the sequence of events based on physical evidence and witness statements.
"The husband came over earlier … forced his way inside the apartment and waited for the mother to arrive home," Price explained.
Key Takeaways
- Police identified the incident as a murder-suicide; no criminal charges will be filed against the deceased husband
- The couple's two daughters discovered both parents dead after returning home from school
- One daughter, a teenager, called 911 to report finding her parents shot
- A guardian responded to take custody of the children following the discovery
- Authorities have not released the victims' names pending notification of family
- No motive has been established for the killing
What's Next
The Clark County Coroner's Office is expected to determine the official cause and manner of death through autopsy examinations. Investigators indicated that victim identification and formal next-of-kin notifications must be completed before names can be publicly released, a process that typically takes several days in cases involving violent deaths. The couple's two daughters remain with the guardian who responded to the scene; officials have not disclosed whether child welfare services or crisis counselors are involved in providing support to the minors. Because the husband is deceased and no surviving suspect exists, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police will not pursue criminal charges, effectively closing the active investigation into the shooting. Updates on autopsy findings and victim identifications will be provided through LVMPD press releases as information becomes available.