A somber gathering

Karen Zekan

Thursday, May 15, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

It was a peaceful, reflective moment as friends and family gathered to remember young Daniel Mendoza.

They sat in the shade of the yard off McKellar Circle, steps away from where the 21-year-old man was killed in a drive-by shooting, the bullet holes in the wall and shattered glass window permanent reminders.

Children played and drank root beer under the trees. Ramon Mendoza, Daniel's father, greeted all with hugs and welcomed each face with plates of home-cooked rice and beans and barbecued beef.

It was a somber end to an emotional day that began in court Wednesday, where former Metro Police Officer Ron Mortensen was convicted of first-degree murder in the Dec. 28 drive-by slaying of Daniel Mendoza.

"To all the community in Las Vegas, thanks for helping our family," Ramon Mendoza said. "Las Vegas is our home. My family thanks everyone who has helped."

Candles and roses were set in the doorway of the apartment at 537 McKellar Circle, near Paradise and Flamingo roads, marking the spot where Mendoza's son died. The humble man appreciated the media's interest, but said he wished not to speak anymore to reporters, feeling that too much coverage of the story has already been done.

"The overwhelming attitude is that Ramon and his family are happy and glad there was a conviction, but it doesn't bring his son back," said attorney Aaron Steinhoff, whose office will be pursuing a civil suit against Metro Police.

"(Christopher) Brady and Mortensen were hired by Metro and trained by Metro. What Ramon questions is how they were allowed to slip through the system. He wanted those responsible to be held accountable."

Four Metro officers who patrol the neighborhood where the surviving Mendozas live stopped by the barbecue to lend their support to the slain man's family, with whom they had been friends prior to the shooting.

"This is an opportunity for the family and friends to get together with law enforcement," said Gary Guymon, deputy district attorney who prosecuted the case. "They trusted me with the case and I trusted them with the truth. I came here because I wanted to thank them for allowing my office to prosecute this case. The verdict does a lot for this community."