Fatal home invasion may be linked to recent robberies

Dan Kulin and Mary Manning

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003 | 10:56 a.m.

Police are trying to determine whether Sunday morning's killing of a 48-year-old North Las Vegas man was committed by the same robbers who have invaded several other homes recently.

The fatal shooting of Ronald Marshall at his home in the 2000 block of Matheson Street, near Revere Street and Carey Avenue, was the 10th home invasion case in North Las Vegas since July and the third that involved a homicide, police said.

Seven of those cases occurred in the last 75 days, and the same group of robbers is believed to be responsible for several of the cases, North Las Vegas Police Lt. Art Redcay police said. He said he did not know how many of the 10 crimes were linked.

The other home invasions that involved killings happened in July and September, he said.

Marshall's death was the first homicide in North Las Vegas this year. Police said he was robbed, beaten and shot about 6 a.m. Sunday, but before he died he managed to call 911 and said he had been attacked by three people.

Marshall's neighbors said they were left shocked and scared.

"We can't find any reason for it," Arey Dabney said.

The Dabneys and their three children have been living on Matheson Street for 14 years.

"All of it doesn't make any sense," Dabney said. "I don't even know if I should let the kids out. It's been really hard."

Dabney said she waved to Marshall whenever she saw him coming or going.

"He seemed like a nice person," she said. "We're sorry for what happened to him."

Otis Thompson and his family have lived in their home on Matheson Street since 1965, and "we've (always) had a pretty clean neighborhood."

Thompson said he knew Marshall and always greeted him when they saw each other outside.

"He was a man of few words," Thompson said of the carpet cleaning company employee.

To protect your home against criminals, Redcay suggested people lock their doors, even when home during the day. Also, people should identify a room with a telephone that they can lock themselves into in case of an emergency.

"And know your neighbors and report suspicious activity," Redcay said. "If you're a target they might stake out your property." Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Secret Witness at 385-5555 or the North Las Vegas Detective Bureau at 633-1773.