Police retracing steps of man found shot to death on LV street

Cathy Scott

Friday, Jan. 16, 1998 | 10:41 a.m.

Detectives are retracing the steps of a 42-year-old man who was shot in the back, collapsed and died on a northeastern Las Vegas street just before dawn Thursday.

Metro Police were called to Sandy Lane and Geist Avenue near Pecos Road and Las Vegas Boulevard North at 5:17 a.m. When officers and paramedics arrived, they found Randy Matthews lying face down in the street.

Matthews, a temporary employee for Silver State Disposal Service, was pronounced dead at the scene from a single gunshot wound in his back, police said.

Neighbors in an apartment complex in the 2900 block of Sandy Lane told investigators they heard gunshots earlier in the morning, between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Matthews was shot across the street and in front of the complex, about three blocks from where he lived, homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen said.

A white, early model compact car, possibly an import, was seen leaving the area at a high rate of speed. A fight between Matthews and his assailant probably started north of where the victim was found, Petersen said.

Wednesday night, Matthews had been playing poker at a local casino, Petersen said.

"We were able to identify him fairly quickly, and started retracing his steps so we have something to work with," he said. "The last we knew he was with a friend playing poker."

After playing poker, he went to a nearby convenience store, not far from Pecos and Las Vegas Boulevard North, homicide Sgt. Ken Hefner said.

"We can account for him leaving the convenience store about 3:30 a.m.," Hefner said.

After he was shot, Matthews made it several blocks before he collapsed in the street next to the curb, Petersen said. He appeared to be trying to make it home, he said.

"He managed to walk or run on his own power," Petersen said.

Investigators were reviewing the surveillance videotape from the convenience store, Hefner said.