Suspect in Collins killing faces extradition

Jace Radke

Friday, Jan. 18, 2002 | 9:29 a.m.

A man accused of slaying an aspiring Las Vegas rap singer 20 months ago is facing extradition after being arrested in Spain two weeks ago.

Christopher Berarducci, 29, has been a fugitive since the April 25, 2000 shooting death of 31-year-old Andre Collins, who was found slain in the Green Room, a recording studio in the 800 block of East Sahara Avenue, Metro Police said.

Collins, whose father Gene Collins is a former Nevada assemblyman and the current president of the local office of the National Action Network, was working on a record he planned to release locally at the time of the shooting.

"We just want to thank Metro Police, the FBI and Interpol for not giving up and continuing to follow up on the case," Collins said. "I don't really want to say anything else at this point because of the upcoming trial, but we are thankful for what the authorities have done."

Berarducci reportedly fled to the East Coast and then made his way out of the country, police said.

Berarducci was arrested Jan. 3 near Barcelona after a segment about him was aired on "America's Most Wanted" last year.

The Clark County district attorney's office has submitted paperwork to the Justice Department to start the extradition process.