Shooting suspect ran escort service, friend says

Jen Lawson

Thursday, March 6, 2003 | 11:34 a.m.

Homicide suspect and local R&B singer Alfonso "Slinkey" Blake ran an escort service that specialized in Asian women, his friend and financial adviser told the Sun this morning.

Blake is suspected in the shooting deaths of two Asian women early Wednesday in a desert area near Decatur Boulevard and Lone Grove Road in the southwest part of the valley.

A third victim is recovering from gunshot wounds in the head and hands and was upgraded to fair condition, University Medical Center spokeswoman Cheryl Persinger said this morning.

Metro Police said they plan to obtain a warrant today for the arrest of Blake, a two-time convicted felon who goes by the show business moniker "Slinkey."

"We certainly consider him armed and dangerous," Lt. Tom Monahan said of Blake, who was believed to be driving a black Ford Expedition or Lincoln Navigator with Nevada registration 074JZB.

Eddie Carr, who runs Eddie Carr's Entertainment, said he helped Blake guide his career and advised him on financial matters.

"When I tell you what was on the plate for him, it's hard to comprehend how he could do this," Carr said this morning.

Blake had invested a half-million dollars of his own money into his career, Carr said. His self-promoted CD, "Slinkey," was scheduled to be released in a few weeks on his own label, Good Game Entertainment.

Carr said it appeared Blake financed his career by running an escort service.

"He ran an escort service, and all the girls were from Hong Kong," Carr said. "I didn't ask where the money was coming from, but I'm gathering that's where it was coming from."

His web site, www.slinkey.com, describes his music as a blend of soul, hip hop and rhythm and blues, which Carr compared to R. Kelly.

The website features photos of Blake wearing workout gear, a leather jacket and a fur vest. In one photo, Blake is behind the wheel of a purple Mercedes Benz with two scantily-dressed Asian women in the back seat.

Carr said he met Blake six months ago. Blake approached him because he knew Carr had been friends with Tupac Shakur, and had been his financial advisor.

"He said, 'Eddie, I knew you used to work with Tupac. Would you be willing to help me?"

Blake told Carr he was working on an album, but wanted to release a song in advance to create some buzz. The song, "So Happy," was released on the west coast about a year ago, and it was well-received, Carr said.

William Thompson, known as the radio personality Billy T on Power 88.1 KCEP in Las Vegas, said he met Blake a year and a half ago when he stopped in to promote his song.

"He had a hot little record out, a nice R&B song, a love song," Thompson said. "We played it and got a great response."

Blake performed in concerts at Blue Note and Drink, Las Vegas nightclubs that have since closed.

Thompson said Blake didn't seem like he was capable of killing anyone.

"I'm totally in shock about this," he said. "He's a very nice young man, very soft-spoken."

Lee Winston, general manager of the radio station, said that while Blake was well-received by the community, he "wasn't a major entertainer of note."

Blake had expensive tastes, Carr said, and enjoyed throwing money around. At one point, he had several homes, and Carr said he drove many luxury vehicles.

The night of the shooting, Blake was scheduled to be in the studio putting the finishing touches on his album.

But someone from the studio called and canceled because of a scheduling conflict, Carr said.

When he heard about the shooting Wednesday, Carr said he called Blake's cell phone, but he didn't answer.

"I said, 'Slinkey, you have to call me,' " Carr said. "I said, 'Slinkey, you have to turn youself in. If you didn't do it, you don't have anything to worry about. If you did, you have to face the music.' "

Police received a 911 cellular phone call about 2 a.m. Wednesday from a woman reporting a problem at Decatur and Lone Grove. The call was disconnected, and officers went to the area to investigate.

They found furniture and other household goods dropped in the street, but no people. While searching the desert area, they found a 19-year-old woman dead with a gunshot wound in the head.

Two other women, both 23, were found nearby. Both had been shot in the head. They were taken to University Medical Center, where one woman was pronounced dead.

The names of the two dead women are being withheld by the Clark County coroner's office pending notification of next of kin, a spokeswoman said this morning.

Detectives served a search warrant Wednesday afternoon at a house on the 4700 block of Thackerville Avenue, near where the women were found, where police say he was staying.

According to police and court records, Blake has been arrested at least four times since 1988 on charges stemming from violent attacks, drug possesion and probation violations.

He was arrested for felony battery with a deadly weapon in 1988, but pleaded guilty to battery, a misdemeanor, court records show. He was sentenced to three years' probation. He violated probation in 1989 when he stabbed a man in North Las Vegas.

Blake spent 30 days in jail, then was arrested again in 1990 for resisting arrest after he ran from police who were investigating a mischief complaint, according to court records.

In 1996, he was charged with felony drug possession and escape charges after he was caught with marijuana. Chargers were dropped after he completed drug counseling.

Anyone with information is urged to call Metro's homicide section at 229-3521 or Crime Stoppers at 385-55555.