Fatal shooting of handyman shocks LV neighborhood

Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003 | 9:16 a.m.

Metro Police have no suspects in the shooting death of a man who was installing lights Monday night on the garage of a home near Sahara Avenue and Walnut Road in eastern Las Vegas.

Neighbors closed their window blinds and locked their doors Tuesday, saying nothing like the shooting in the 2200 block of Grannis Lane had ever happened.

Gustavo Gomez Navarro, 29, of Las Vegas, was pronounced dead in the front yard of a home on the corner of Grannis and Bolles Harbor, Metro Homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said.

Witnesses said that a man walked up to Navarro, who had been hired by the homeowners to install lights outside the garage, and fired several shots. The killer drove off in a black Honda Civic with two other men. The car had a lowered suspension, Monahan said.

Neighbors said Navarro did not live in the immediate neighborhood.

None of the neighbors knew the homeowners where the shooting took place. The new family had moved in weeks ago, they said.

A woman who refused to give her name said she would not allow her sons, 12 and 13, to play outside.

"I'm keeping them inside," said the woman, who lives directly across the street from the shooting scene. "I heard noises last night, but I thought it was firecrackers."

Another man and his nephew, at work repairing their car, said they did not know the victim or the family where the shooting occurred.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or call the Homicide Section at 229-3521. A reward of up to $2,000 is offered.