Police short on leads in slaying of man, 19

Tuesday, July 8, 2003 | 9:57 a.m.

North Las Vegas Police said they have few leads in finding suspects after an early-morning shooting Monday in the 2500 block of St. George Street.

Officers arrived about 1:20 a.m. and found two men, one who was dead and another with a gunshot wound in the abdomen. The dead man had been driving a maroon and gray Chevrolet Suburban and the injured man was a passenger, police said.

The 19-year-old driver, who had not been positively identified as of this morning, was pronounced dead at the scene from a single gunshot wound in his head.

The second victim, Rudolpho Serrano Jr., 18, was taken to University Medical Center. He is listed in stable condition.

North Las Vegas detectives said they interviewed Serrano on Monday. Serrano told police both he and the dead man are gang members.

At first, detectives said, Serrano described the shooting suspect as a heavyset man driving a black Ford F150. Then, they said, he paused.

"I'm not testifying," police said Serrano told them. "I'm not a snitch."

When detectives asked Serrano how he felt about his friend who was dead, he reportedly replied, "I can't bring him back."

The North Las Vegas Police Department is continuing to investigate the crime. Anyone with any information is asked to call the police department at 633-9111 or CrimeStoppers at 385-5555.