Suspect in woman’s death dies at hospital

Keith Paul

Friday, July 14, 2000 | 11:35 a.m.

A 39-year-old man who shot himself as North Las Vegas Police knocked on his door to question him about the slaying of his ex-girlfriend died Thursday.

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

Cano died about 10:40 p.m. Thursday at University Medical Center, according to Trish Lampro, a hospital spokeswoman. The investigation into the Tuesday shooting of the 34-year-old North Las Vegas woman will continue, Larotonda said.

"We still have to make sure that he is our only suspect," he said.

All indications are that Cano is the only person suspected to be involved in the homicide, Larotonda said.

A female driver of a pickup truck pulled over to the side of the road in the 2200 block of Ellis Street about 10:25 p.m. Tuesday after noticing a car was following her. A man got out of the car, walked up to the passenger side and shot the passenger, Larotonda said.

The truck driver ran from the vehicle, and the gunman fled in the car, police said.

The name of the 34-year-old victim has not released since her family has not been located to notify them, Clark County Coroner's Office officials said this morning.

Police, who went to Cano's home to question him, received information that he was at another address and went there to talk to him.

When police entered the house, they found Cano had apparently shot himself , Larotonda said.