Shooting may have been self-defense

Kim Smith

Friday, Nov. 30, 2001 | 8:59 a.m.

A 61-year-old Las Vegas man once held without bail in the Clark County Detention Center on a murder charge had bail of $150,000 set Thursday after a witness came forward to say he acted in self-defense.

David Earl Reed is accused of shooting Eugene Joseph Cattaneo, 59, to death on Thanksgiving Day.

Police suspect Reed and Cattaneo got into a dispute because Reed has been selling items out of his cluttered yard in the 1700 block of Golden Arrow Drive near Desert Inn Road and Maryland Parkway.

Witnesses interviewed by police allege Reed shot Cattaneo while Cattaneo was taking pictures of him. However, a witness found by private investigator Thomas Dillard claims Reed shot Cattaneo after Cattaneo struck him with a golf club.

Police reports indicate golf clubs and a digital camera were found at the scene, although the murder weapon was not.

Sources close to the case say Cattaneo did take a picture of Reed seconds before he was shot, but the picture was composed in such a way that no gun can be seen.

Defense attorney Thomas Pitaro, who hired Dillard, also said Thursday that Reed called 911 asking for help because Cattaneo was acting irrationally. He has asked for a tape of that 911 call.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Jennifer Togliatti set Reed's bail and scheduled a preliminary hearing Dec. 17.