Slaying suspect in critical condition

Keith Paul

Wednesday, July 12, 2000 | 10:52 a.m.

A 39-year-old man was in critical condition after shooting himself this morning as North Las Vegas Police knocked on his door to question him about the slaying of his ex-girlfriend.

Eladio Cano apparently shot himself about 2 a.m. at a home in the 1900 block of Santa Paula Drive in Las Vegas as North Las Vegas Police officers knocked on the door, said Lt. Chris Larotonda, North Las Vegas Police investigation bureau commander.

"Soon as they knocked on the door they heard a gunshot," Larotonda said. "He was found on the floor with a gun next to him."

Cano was listed this morning in critical condition at University Medical Center.

The name of the 34-year-old North Las Vegas woman who was killed will not be released until her family can be notified.

Police wanted to question Cano in connection with the shooting of the woman, who was killed as she sat in a pickup truck about 10:25 p.m. Tuesday in the 2200 block of Ellis Street.

The female driver of the pickup pulled over to the side of the road after noticing a car was following them. A man got out of the car, walked up to the passenger side and shot the passenger, Larotonda said.

Police went to Cano's home but were unable to find him. They received information that he was at another address and went there to talk to him.

Cano was arrested last month on domestic-battery charges involving the woman who was killed Tuesday, Larotonda said.