Motive sought in casino slaying

Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2000 | 1:42 a.m.

Police are still looking for a motive in the shooting death of a man in a casino sports book.

The man charged in the slaying, Anthony J. Cuccia, and the victim were both from the same New York city borough and both regulars in the Stardust sports book. Beyond that, though, police say they are having a hard time connecting the two.

Homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen said Cuccia's motive might be known only to himself, and he isn't talking.

"Whatever motive or conspiracy there is only in the suspect's mind," Petersen said.

Cuccia, 59, is being held in the Clark County Detention Center, accused of shooting 56-year-old Phillip M. Greenspan just before noon Monday. Witnesses said Greenspan ran a few feet before collapsing on the casino's concrete entryway. He was pronounced dead an hour later at University Medical Center.

Witnesses told police that Cuccia shot Greenspan at point-blank range inside the Strip resort. After he fired his weapon twice, Cuccia put the gun down and calmly surrendered to Stardust security guards, one witness said.

Although Petersen described Cuccia as homeless, Greenspan had been staying in a residence motel just behind the Stardust.

Police said both men had previously lived in the same borough, but it appeared they didn't know each other in New York. Cuccia had a spotty criminal record, including four convictions in New York state dating back to 1960. His lone Nevada conviction came in 1996 when he was found guilty of conspiracy to commit grand larceny.