Neighborhood searching for answers after man kills 3 women in North Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Three women were shot to death in North Las Vegas and a neighborhood is asking why as North Las Vegas police have yet to reveal a motive.
The shootings happened Tuesday around 3 p.m. near Carey Ave and Civic Center Drive.
Police say a man killed three women and a dog before officers gunned him down. The Clark County Coroner’s office identified the shooter as 43-year-old Edward Brooks.
“There were some gunshots and ultimately those women were killed and the dog,” Luis Escobosa, who was at a house adjacent to the building where the shootings occurred, said in Spanish. “We were standing right there when we heard the first gunshot. We thought there was some construction, but no it was when he killed them and the dog.”
Dave Crete was standing outside the apartment complex where the murders happened. He identified himself as the property manager and told 8 News Now it’s a second-chance building. Crete told 8 News Now that some of his tenants are recommended by domestic violence organizations.
While the North Las Vegas Police Department has not revealed a motive for this crime, 8 News Now spoke with SafeNest CEO Liz Ortenburger about the ongoing issues of domestic homicides in our community.
“We are saturated with domestic violence in our community more than other states are,” Ortenburger said. “So, we tend to, unfortunately, be more lethal.”
In 2023, Clark County saw 56 domestic murders and 24,000 calls for domestic crimes.
“It’s not a matter of if there is going to be more violence,” Ortenburger said. “It is escalating to homicide, and we need folks to get safe.”
She said it’s not just about helping survivors but working to change the culture that leads to abuse.
“What are the reasons for the abuse,” Ortenburger explained. “And how can we work towards making you an individual who is not going to use abuse.”
For more information on SafeNest, for anyone who needs help, click here.
Kenneth Hayes was leaving one of the apartments where the women were killed.
“Associates, they knew each other as friends. Hang out. Something like that,” Hayes said about the victims and suspect.
North Las Vegas police shoot, kill armed man; 3 women, 1 dog found dead in apartment complex
8 News Now was questioning Hayes on his characterization of their relationship when he interjected, “I don’t know. You’re asking the wrong person.”
Hayes said his name is on the lease of the apartment.
“I wasn’t there. I can’t answer that question. I don’t know,” Hayes said.
Victor Fuentes said he was inside his friend’s second-floor apartment Tuesday when he heard gunshots.
“When I did hear it, I didn’t think nothing of it,” Fuentes said. “It wasn’t until we got evacuated where I was like man. Yeah, we weren’t able to come home until this morning, like 8 or 9 o’clock.”
According to NLVPD, officers shot and killed Brooks in the building’s courtyard after he refused to drop his weapon, despite being given verbal commands to do just that.
Ortenburger provided 8 News Now with a statement on the death of those three women:
“Nevada has ranked in the top 10 states for women being murdered by men in 23 out of the last 25 years, according to the Violence Policy Center. Clark County, Nevada accounts for approximately 80% of the state’s domestic violence homicides, with a total of 56 out of 73 statewide in 2023, data pulled from NCEDSV 2023 domestic violence homicide report. The tragic loss of life is often not accounted for in these numbers as mothers, daughters, friends, sons, and family members are murdered by intimate partners, often leaving behind orphaned children and grieving families. We are excited about emerging opportunities with the governor’s office and legislative leaders to better protect victims and survivors of domestic violence, and we need to do more. SafeNest spent over 330K between Formula One and the Superbowl, simply housing highly lethal survivors who intersect with domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault. We continue to see epidemic rates of domestic and sexual violence while doing our best with limited resources to house and keep survivors safe, but we have only approximately 150 confidential beds in semi-communal living situations in Clark County versus other communities our size that have 400 or more confidential beds available. While confidential shelter is only one of our services, it remains the most critical for deterring homicides. SafeNest is pleased with the collaborative work amongst key players such as Legal Aid of Southern Nevada, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, and other agencies to help combat this critical issue, and we continue to work towards critical infrastructure investment into the community so that every survivor can live.”
To contact SafeNest’s 24/7 hotline call 702-646-4981.
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