Another teen killed in drive-by shooting

Jace Radke

Friday, March 10, 2000 | 11:10 a.m.

Metro Police Homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen shook his head Thursday night as he found himself at the scene of yet another shooting that left a Las Vegas teenager dead.

"It's another instance of young people and violence," Petersen said.

Bullets flying and cars quickly screeching away have become the common elements in the shooting deaths of three teenagers in the last 22 days.

Sixteen-year-old Antonio Ramos was found dead Thursday at his girlfriend's house in the 6400 block of Meadowlark Lane, near Torrey Pines Drive and Spring Mountain Road.

As in the homicides of 17-year-old Sam Larios on Feb. 18 and 15-year-old Christopher Gaitor on Feb. 20, detectives from Metro's gang unit were called to the scene.

"I don't know if you could say this is gang motivated, but there is definitely some kind of gang connection here," Petersen said.

Neighbors told detectives that at 4:30 p.m. they heard gunshots and several say they saw a small, red car speed away from in front of a home at the corner of Meadowlark and Willow Springs Drive.

Police believe that Ramos was leaving his girlfriend's house when he was shot by someone in the passing car. Ramos managed to run back toward the house and jump over a wall into the back yard before collapsing near the back porch, Petersen said.

A neighbor said that the victim was in the neighborhood frequently and that she thought it might be something involving him when she heard the shots.

"I was playing with my baby on the floor when I heard five shots," the neighbor said. "He (the victim) hung out with some guys that were in a gang. He starts stuff with a lot of people."

The initial story that police heard at the scene is that the victim's girlfriend may have been in an argument or altercation with another girl who may have had contact with gang members, Petersen said.

The shooting was the 23rd homicide in Metro's jurisdiction this year.

Anyone with any information about the homicide is asked to call police at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Jace Radke is a reporter for the Las Vegas Sun. He can be reached at (702) 259-2318 or by e-mail at jace@lasvegassun.com