Double-murder suspect met victims at club

Jen Lawson

Friday, March 7, 2003 | 11:19 a.m.

Murder suspect Alfonso "Slinkey" Blake met the shooting victims at the Olympic Garden Topless Cabaret, where he was known as a big tipper, according to employees.

Court documents charging Blake with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder identify the murder victims as Sophear Choy, 19, and Priscilla Van Dine, 22.

A third victim, Kim Choy, 23, is recovering from gunshot wounds in the head and hands.

Police say Blake shot the three women early Wednesday morning in a desert area in southwest Las Vegas after an argument as the four were moving furniture and personal belongings from Blake's home.

Kim Choy was in fair condition this morning at University Medical Center. She was moved from intensive care Thursday and into a regular hospital room, hospital spokeswoman Cheryl Persinger said.

Persinger said hospital staff members are keeping a close watch on Choy because Blake is still at large.

"We're aware of the situation with her, and the staff is more aware of who is coming and going," she said.

Homicide Sgt. Ken Hefner said detectives have interviewed her in the hospital, but wouldn't comment further.

Blake, a local R&B singer who uses the performance name "Slinkey" who also allegedly ran an escort service specializing in Asian women, fled after the women were shot. His black Lincoln Navigator was found Thursday parked at the Andover Place apartments near Eastern Avenue and Flamingo Road by a patrol officer.

Investigators were processing evidence found in the vehicle late Thursday night, Hefner said. There have been some reported sightings of Blake, but police haven't received any credible tips.

Before doctors performed surgery on Kim Choy Wednesday, she told police she met Blake at Olympic Garden, where her sister Sophear Choy worked, according to court documents.

Thursday night at Olympic Garden, 1531 Las Vegas Blvd., dancers, cocktail waitresses and other employees were discussing the crime among themselves. Many said they knew Blake, a two-time convicted felon who came in regularly between 2 and 6 a.m.

"I knew who he was," a waitress said while loud music blared. "He came in here late at night and talked to the girls."

Another waitress said she got bad vibes from Blake, even though he was a big tipper.

"He tried to talk to one of my friends, but I told her to stay away," she said. "Something didn't seem right about him."

Sophear Choy worked as a dancer at the club using the stage name "Deja," according to the club's executive director, Jim Lovelace.

Looking through Sophear Choy's file in a back office, Lovelace said she only began working at the club Feb. 14.

"It's really such a tragedy," he said.

One waitress who denied knowing Blake actually knew him well, Lovelace said, and she said she was concerned about her safety because Blake is still on the loose.

Kim Choy often picked up her sister from work at Olympic Garden. Court documents say Blake wanted the Choy sisters to rent bedrooms in his home in the 4700 block of Thackerville Avenue in the southwest part of Las Vegas.

He lived in the two-story, five bedroom house with two other Asian women, court documents say.

Blake, who also went by the name "Eric Lee," allowed the sisters to store some of their belongings in the garage of the house. The sisters ultimately decided not to move in because Blake's requested rent was too high, according to documents.

About 2 a.m. Wednesday, Kim and Sophear Choy and their friend, Van Dine, a waitress at a different topless club, went to Blake's house to retrieve their belongings. Blake opened the garage and helped them put their things in his Navigator.

As they were leaving, Sophear Choy and Blake got into an argument near Decatur and Lone Grove, which is a short drive from Blake's house.

Blake said he didn't need this, documents say. He ordered the women out of the vehicle and into the desert.

Shortly after 2 a.m., Kim Choy called 911 and said her sister was being beaten up at Decatur and Lone Grove. Dispatchers heard a male voice in the background saying, "Who's that?" then the line went dead, documents say.

Kim Choy told police Blake shot her and the two other women in the head with a silver revolver, according to the court documents.