News briefs for August 2, 2005

Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005 | 11:14 a.m.

Man shot outside blues bar dies

The man who was shot in the stomach in front of the Sand Dollar Blues nightclub died Monday afternoon.

Rene Gilberto Sosa, 29, died at 1:01 p.m. on Monday at UMC, according to the Clark County Coroner's office.

The man who shot Sosa outside the nightclub, located at 3555 Spring Mountain Road just west of Interstate 15, was identified by Metro Police as Ernst Matscheko.

Employees of the bar held Matscheko until Metro arrived and arrested him. The charge against him is to be upgraded from attempted murder to murder.

Matscheko and Sosa were allegedly arguing inside the nightclub when the bartender at the Sand Dollar kicked them out. Moments later, people inside the club heard a gunshot, police said.

Reward offered in January killing

Meadow Gold Dairy is offering a $10,000 reward to help solve the January slaying of a 31-year-old North Las Vegas business owner.

Taher "T.J." Jakani was killed Jan. 2 after a robbery at the Smokes and Jewelry store at 3073 W. Craig Road. Jakani followed the gunman outside, where he was shot and killed.

Jakani, a native of Afghanistan, opened the shop in 2004. His wife was pregnant with their third child when he was killed.

The reward is part of a new partnership between Meadow Gold Dairy and valley law enforcement to assist in solving high priority and horrific crimes. It is based upon a similar program in Dallas.

All rewards will be for $10,000 and paid to recipients designated by law enforcement.

Anyone with information about Jakani's killing can call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tipline at 385-5555.