Police hoping reward leads them to killer

Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 | 9:57 a.m.

Sheriff Bill Young and other Metro Police officials said they are tracking tips from 12 calls received after a 68-year-old woman was shot and killed during a robbery in the Suncoast parking lot Tuesday morning, but they are hoping a $50,000 reward being offered by the casino owners will spur more information from the public.

Young announced Thursday that the Suncoast and Boyd Gaming will pay the money to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and indictment of a suspect or suspects in connection with the killing of Julie Miller, Young said.

Ronald and Julie Miller had pulled into the Suncoast parking lot at Alta Drive and Rampart Boulevard about 10:45 a.m., when a man with a gun approached the couple while they were still in their car. He demanded money through the driver's window.

Julie Miller complied with the robber's demand, offering a fist full of bills, her husband and police said. The gunman said that wasn't enough money and threatened them with the gun and made good on the threat after Ronald Miller pushed the gun away. Police believe the bullet passed through Ronald Miller's arm and into his wife's chest.

Julie Miller was rushed to University Medical Center, where she later died. Her husband was treated at the hospital and released Tuesday.

Young appears to have taken a greater interest in this homicide case than he usually does. He went to the homicide scene Tuesday, and he usually doesn't go to homicides, and he led the press conference Thursday.

Young said Thursday that he lives a couple blocks from the Suncoast and he and his family "go there all the time."

A violent crime in Summerlin is an "anomaly" in an area with one of the lowest rates of crime in Las Vegas, he said.

"Violent crime is a major concern for us. ... This is a high profile case, but it's not our only case," Young said.

Metro Homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said that Metro is trying to enhance the casino's videotapes, which did not record the actual assault, but show what is believed to be the suspect's getaway car, a silver Dodge Magnum station wagon.

"That single piece of evidence may break the case," Monahan said.

The robber showed "extreme levels of violence and potential volatility," Monahan said, although he said he could not speculate on whether the man might have been impaired or had other problems.

The killer is described as a lighter-complexioned black man in his late 30s with a medium build, Monahan said. He was wearing a baseball cap and a tan sleeveless shirt.

Anyone with information about the shooting and robbery can call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.