Third Vegas teen killed in as many weeks

Friday, March 10, 2000 | 10:54 a.m.

The latest shooting took place near Jones Boulevard and Spring Mountain Road.

The boy's name has not been released.

Two weeks ago, former Clark County High student Christopher Gaitor, 15, was shot a short distance from his home. He and a friend were returning from playing video games at a friend's home.

Two days before Gaitor's killing, Western High School senior Sam Larios, 17, was fatally shot as he got out of a car.

No arrests have been made in the unrelated cases, but police have speculated that both might be gang-related.

The killings have prompted civic and school officials to launch efforts to cut down on the growing teen violence.

In Thursday's shooting, the boy was visiting his girlfriend and was leaving the home when several witnesses heard shots, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Lt. Wayne Petersen.

The boy was wounded several times. He scaled a fence of the residence but died moments later in the back yard.

"We aren't really sure of exactly what happened and we are still trying to sort it all out," Petersen said.

At the sound of the shots, neighbors said the teen's girlfriend ran out of the house and frantically tried to render aid to the boy.

Shortly after the shooting police stopped a car and questioned teens in the vehicle. No arrests were made.

"The shooting suspect was not in the car at the time of the stop," Petersen said. "Detectives are attempting to identify the individual."

The victim's girlfriend told police that before the shooting "she got into an altercation with some other females who may have been in a gang," Petersen said.