Holiday weekend tainted by four killings

Jace Radke

Tuesday, May 29, 2001 | 10:27 a.m.

Authorities are investigating four homicides that occurred during the holiday weekend, including a shooting at a downtown Las Vegas motel.

Meanwhile, Henderson Police are treating the shooting of a man Saturday night as a potential homicide. The 20-year-old man apparently was shot in the head when he opened the door to his apartment in the 500 block of Harris Street near Boulder Highway and Basic Road about 5 p.m. Saturday.

The man, whose name was not released this morning, was in critical condition in University Medical Center this morning. No suspects or motive have been identified.

Metro Police dispatchers received a call that shots had been fired at the Silver Queen Motel, 1401 E. Carson Ave., about 7 a.m. Monday. Police arrived at the motel, near 14th Street, and found a 39-year-old man in the parking lot with a gunshot wound.

Paramedics tried to treat the man at the scene, but he died from the injury, police said. Detectives say it was likely the victim lived in the neighborhood near the hotel. The man's name was not released this morning pending positive identification and notification of his family.

Earlier Monday homicide detectives were at the scene of a fatal stabbing in the 1000 block of Sierra Vista Drive near Paradise and Desert Inn roads.

Martinique L. Tillman, 21, of North Las Vegas was found stabbed several times in the chest about 6 a.m., police said. Tillman was taken to University Medical Center, where he died.

Police arrested Edward Smith, 35, and charged him with one count of murder with the use of a deadly weapon. Smith surrendered to officers at the scene and claimed self-defense, police said.

Apparently, Tillman was sleeping in Smith's car. There was a confrontation, and Tillman was stabbed, police said.

Metro Police are also investigating a fatal shooting that occurred late Sunday night in an alley near Eastern Avenue and Bonanza Road.

The shooting happened about 10:30 p.m. in an alley just south of the 2500 block of Poppy Lane, where police found 30-year-old Oscar Chacon of North Las Vegas. He died at the scene.

North Las Vegas Police are investigating a Friday afternoon homicide in the 3400 block of East Cheyenne Avenue. Police were called to the area about 4 p.m. after getting a report of a body in an eastbound traffic lane.

The victim lacked injuries consistent with auto pedestrian accidents, and wounds on the body led officers to believe the victim had been slain and possibly dumped in the street, police said.

The victim has not yet been identified. He is believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s, police said.

Anyone with any information on these homicides is asked to call Secret Witness at 385-5555.