Bartender targeted in tavern killing

Keith Paul

Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2001 | 11:12 a.m.

A Las Vegas bartender gunned down in a bar Monday offered money several times to a masked gunman before being shot.

Martin Bykowski, 40, apparently thought the man who entered the bar in the 1500 block of South Main Street near Wyoming Avenue was a robber and told him to take the money, Lt. Wayne Petersen of Metro Police's homicide unit said.

But the gunman apparently was targeting the bartender and fired a blast from a shotgun, hitting him in the chest, about 5 a.m. Monday. Bykowski, of Henderson, died at University Medical Center.

"From all indications, the bartender offered the gunman money, stating, 'Take the money,' " Petersen said. "The gunman chased the bartender down inside the business and shot him."

About 15 to 20 patrons were inside the bar when the gunman entered. The gunman apparently didn't say anything to indicate it was a robbery but just went after the bartender, Petersen said.

"The suspect apparently targeted the bartender for whatever reason," Petersen said.

Police are investigating a prior confrontation between Bykowski and a patron in which Bykowski threw the patron out of the bar.

Anyone with information is asked to call Metro's homicide unit at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.