Woman sought in slaying

Friday, Feb. 27, 2004 | 9:45 a.m.

Surveillance video from a convenience store has allowed police to identify two suspects in the case of a 61-year-old Las Vegas man who was killed Feb. 5.

Donald Ursem was shot by a man who had knocked on his front door in the 5700 block Carl Street, near Vegas Drive and Jones Boulevard. The gunman had demanded Ursem's wallet before shooting him, police said.

Ursem's ATM card was subsequently used at a convenience store, and surveillance cameras captured images of a woman who used the card as well as the vehicle in which she left the store.

Police said Thursday that the woman on the video is Aquilla "Benita" Lee, 24. She is 5-feet-5 and weighs about 140 pounds. Lee has been known to wear wigs, but naturally has short curly hair, police said.

Lee is known to frequent the downtown area, as well a the area of Lake Mead and Nellis boulevards, they said.

Police have been unable to locate Lee, and would like to talk to her about this crime.

The video of the SUV in which she was riding allowed police to identify the vehicle as a 1999 black Ford Expedition registered to Walter Crawford, 40.

Crawford is in jail, charged with battery with substantial bodily harm in an unrelated Feb. 19 attack.

Anyone with information on Lee's whereabouts or Crawford's possible connection to the Ursem slaying can call CrimeStoppers at 385-5555 or the homicide section at 229-3521. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a $2,000 reward.