News briefs for January 2, 2002

Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002 | 9:43 a.m.

Man arrested after argument

A 19-year-old Las Vegas man who interceded in an argument between his mother and stepfather early today was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on a charge of murder with a weapon.

Metro Police patrol officers, responding to a report of a family argument, arrived at the home in the 7800 block of Cherry River Drive near Alta and Buffalo drives around 2 a.m. and found a man in a large pool of blood.

The man, whose name was not immediately released, had been stabbed in the upper body, police said.

John Amornuej, 19, a resident in the home, was charged with murder.

Police said Amornuej's mother was involved in a dispute with her husband when Amornuej got involved. There was no indication of a physical fight between the mother and stepfather, police said.

Police recovered a knife believed to be the murder weapon.

Patrol officers told homicide detectives that they had been called to the residence in the past, but investigators declined to say what the nature of those calls were.

83-year-old man is identified

An 83-year-old bicyclist killed Sunday night when hit from behind by a vehicle has been identified.

Enrique Gonzalez was riding his bicycle west in the 1400 block of Owens Avenue at 10:15 p.m. when he was hit by a 1999 Ford SUV driven by an 18-year-old woman who was heading in the same direction.

The rider was thrown several feet into the eastbound lanes and later died at University Medical Center.

Police determined that rider error caused the accident.

Suspect charged in brother's killing

North Las Vegas police made their first homicide arrest of 2002 Tuesday morning.

Detectives arrested Jesus Renteria after his brother, Gregorio Renteria, was found shot to death near Pecos Road and Carey Avenue about 3 a.m.

Police said the brothers were having an argument, and that Jesus Renteria shot his brother in the 3000 block of Cypress Avenue. Jesus Renteria was charged with murder with a deadly weapon and booked into the North Las Vegas Jail.