Elderly couple killed

Karen Zekan and Ed Koch

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1998 | 2:07 a.m.

An elderly Las Vegas woman, affectionately known to West Las Vegas neighborhood children as "the candy lady," and her husband were killed in their modest home today.

Two teenagers seen near the area after the shooting at 832 Blankenship Ave., near H street, were taken into custody -- one following a foot chase, the other after a brief car chase. The shooting occurred about 9 a.m., police said.

The teens were being questioned this morning, but had not been charged with a crime, Metro Homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen said.

Neither the names of the victims or those arrested were released.

Police say they believe robbery was the motive for the slayings.

"There is no call for this -- she was the sweetest lady," neighbor Robin King said. "She sold candy to all the kids in the neighborhood -- they called her the candy lady."

Police were called by a neighbor who reported hearing gunshots. Petersen said police found the door of the couple's house ajar. When they got inside they found one victim in the kitchen and the other in a hallway, both dead from gunshot wounds.

Officers saw two men who fit the description of the men seen in the area after the shooting. One was captured a short distance from the home.

The Metro helicopter spotted the second man flagging down and entering a passing vehicle. A patrol car stopped the vehicle at Lake Mead Boulevard and LaSalle Street and arrested the passenger.

The investigation is continuing, Petersen said.

A nephew and sister of the dead woman were walking down the street when they saw police cars in front of the couple's small white house.

The two relatives were consoled by police and trauma intervention volunteers.