Two sought in killing of of NAACP leader’s son

Keith Paul

Friday, April 28, 2000 | 12:18 p.m.

Metro Police detectives this morning continued to search for two people who may have information about the slaying of the local NAACP president's 31-year-old son.

"It's still hard for me to believe that someone's killed my son," said Gene Collins, president of the Las Vegas chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "You aren't supposed to bury your children; they're supposed to bury their parents."

Andre Collins was found shot to death Tuesday about 9:20 p.m. in a recording studio called the Green Room in the 800 block of East Sahara Avenue. There was no evidence of a break-in and no apparent motive for the slaying, Lt. Wayne Petersen of Metro's homicide unit said.

But police are looking for two people -- Christopher Michael Berarducci and Trina Diane Berarducci -- who may have information about the slaying. The two are married and both are 29.

Christopher Berarducci also goes by the name Christopher Fenn, and Trina Berarducci also uses the name Trina Traux. They may be driving a 1997 dark brown four-door Saturn with Nevada license plate 744HRZ.

Gene Collins said his son was working in the recording studio on a rap record he planned to release locally.

"He was happy being in the music business and was trying to get his own music out," Collins said. "I always told him he could do whatever he wanted as long as he got his education first. His music was just taking off when someone did this cowardly act."

Collins said he and his family are still trying to cope with Andre Collins' death but have faith the police will find who killed him.

"We feel confident that Metro will catch who did this," he said. "They are keeping us informed of what is going on and doing a good job."

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Metro's homicide unit at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Keith Paul covers crime and public safety for the Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-4057 or by e-mail at keith@lasvegassun.com