Hotel guard won’t be charged in shooting

Thursday, Feb. 29, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

The district attorney's office has decided not to pursue charges against a hotel security guard who gunned down a man, who seconds earlier had killed his ex-wife.

Assistant District Attorney Charles Thompson said Wednesday the office has closed the case over the Feb. 18 shooting by Lawrence Motti, 26, that killed 56-year-old Gordon Bishop.

Motti and another guard had witnessed Bishop kill Ruthie Green-Bishop, 45, as she left the Sahara hotel-casino, where she worked as a waitress.

Bishop waited for his former spouse in the employee parking lot and shot her, police said.

He then pointed the gun at the security guards and Motti fired five rounds.

The guards only recently had gone back to carrying guns after the resort was sold to new owner Bill Bennett last year, police said. The previous owner did not authorize the use of weapons.

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