shooting:

Doctor slain in murder-suicide at medical office

Police say an 80-year-old patient shot the physician before shooting himself

Steve Marcus

Metro investigators go through a vehicle outside a doctor’s office on West Charleston Boulevard after Dr. Edna Makabenta was killed by a patient in an apparent murder-suicide at the office Monday.

By Mary Manning (contact)

Published Monday, Jan. 12, 2009 | 11 a.m.

Updated Monday, Jan. 12, 2009 | 6 p.m.

Dr. Edna Almaden Makabenta

Violence shakes ‘cleaned up’ neighborhood

Doctor Killed In Murder-Suicide

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Police say an 80-year-old patient killed his physician Monday morning at a medical office in central Las Vegas Valley.

Fatal doctor shooting

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UPDATED STORY: Patient who shot doctor had complained of care

Two people are dead, one of them a physician planning her retirement, after a murder-suicide at a medical office Monday morning in the central Las Vegas Valley, Metro Police said.

Police arrived at about 9:26 a.m. to the one-story, white stucco medical office at 2511 W. Charleston Blvd. to find two people dead in an examination room, Metro Police spokesman Officer Bill Cassell said. That location is just west of Charleston Boulevard's intersection with Rancho Drive.

Dr. Edna Almaden Makabenta, 49, specialized in internal medicine, according to the Nevada State Medical Examiners Board.

The gunman, who was a patient of Makabenta, was identified by police as Eliseo Santos, 80, of Las Vegas. Police said Santos shot Makabenta, then turned the gun on himself.

Police have no motive in the shooting.

A preliminary police investigation revealed that Santos entered Makabenta's office and requested to see the doctor. Santos was directed to an examination room, then took out a handgun and shot Makabenta once in the head, police said.

Santos subsequently shot himself in the mouth and was pronounced dead a short time later at a local hospital, police said.

Santos also was a patient of Henfel Baria, who owns the West Charleston Pain Center next door at 2525 W. Charleston Blvd.

Baria said he knew both Makabenta and Santos, who also was a patient at the pain clinic. Santos had missed several appointments at the pain clinic, Baria said. Baria said he and Makabenta both opened their clinics in 1997.

Baria said he went into Makabenta's clinic after hearing shots fired and heard her assistant yelling. He then saw Makabenta in the exam room.

"I saw Dr. Makabenta lifeless and the patient lying, still moving a little, but there was blood on his head," Baria said.

Baria said Santos was Makabenta's first patient of the day.

Baria said the shooting gave him pause about safety in medical offices. "It's very scary," he said. "How are we going to ensure safety?"

Former patient Deborah Jamerson stood on the sidewalk behind yellow police crime scene tape and cried, sometimes bending over in grief.

"People loved her," Jamerson said. "I don't know about the other guy."

Jamerson said Makabenta had treated her after a vehicle crash. She said Makabenta spent time talking to and comforting her patients.

"I'm just so sorry for her family," Jamerson said.

Police vehicles blocked the right eastbound lane of Charleston Boulevard between Rancho Drive and Shetland Road as crime scene investigators processed the doctor's examining room and offices.

"God knows, it was just her time," Jamerson said. "This is unbelievable. A new year and she didn't even get through it."

Makabenta came to Las Vegas in 1992, said Louis Ling, executive director of the Nevada State Medical Board of Examiners.

She was born July 8, 1959, in Tacloban City in the Philippines. She received her medical degree in the Philippines in 1984, Ling said.

From 1992 until June 1995, Makabenta worked at University Medical Center to complete her state-side residency requirements, Ling said. She passed her exams for licensure and received her license on Sept. 7, 1995.

She was board-certified in internal medicine in November 1997. Makabenta has been in good standing with the medical board, Ling said.

"There's no way to make sense of this," Ling said of the shooting death. "There's lots of questions, but no answers."

Discussion: 15 comments so far…

By ShannonK

1/12/09 at 2:35 p.m.

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What a ridiculous thing for Jamerson to say ("God knows, it was just her time"). If that is the most comforting thing you can think of to say to the family (or anyone else for that matter who cared about Dr. Makabenta), please keep your mouth shut and your thoughts to yourself.

My condolences go out to the family and friends of Dr. Makabenta.
By LT2LV

1/12/09 at 4:52 p.m.

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What a horrible thing to happen to someone who spent her life trying to make other people's lives better. My heart goes out to Dr. Makabenta's family and friends.
By gerirobinson

1/12/09 at 7:55 p.m.

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My sister, my mother, my daughter and myself have been patients of Dr. Makabenta since the day she opened her office. She was the most caring doctor and person I have ever had the honor to have met. I will always remember her smile and her kind and caring words. Edna you will truly be missed by us and the community. My condolences to her family and friends.
By MaryM

1/13/09 at 4:57 a.m.

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Dr. Makabenta was a person who comes along once in a lifetime. She would visit the Philipines often and treat patients there for free, also giving them free medications. She remembered her roots, having lived in a small village, and was always sensitive to the needs of her patients. In an age of "hands off" medicine, she always gave a thorough exam to her patients, checking heart, lungs, limbs, eyes... every place a doctor is supposed to check.

While still in her residency, she read about a particularly unusual syndrome which seemed to fit one of her patients. Ultimately, she was able to devise a treatment program for that syndrome which is the only treatment used worldwide today.

Las Vegas (and the world) has lost a precious asset, and I have lost the best physician I have ever known. May God be with her lovely family at this incredibly horrible time of their lives.
By MaryM

1/13/09 at 5:07 a.m.

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ShannonK, how about cutting Ms. Jameson some slack? When people are in full-blown grief, they may say strange things. When I heard the news of Edna's murder, I felt the same stunned disbelief and have cried my eyes out for many hours. I was close to Edna and she will always hold a special place in my heart of hearts. Please don't be so hard on someone who may have mis-spoken through tears and grief.
By ShannonK

1/13/09 at 8:27 a.m.

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Sorry, MaryM, but I am even more disgusted with Ms. Jamerson after I read another news report that stated that she rushed right over to the medical office when she heard the news. That was the last thing that the office staff, police, and family needed, another hysterical person. I also don't think she misspoke. People who make those types of statements tend to really believe them and they don't think about how stupid it sounds to loved ones.

I am very truly sorry for the loss of your friend.
By harske

1/13/09 at 8:48 a.m.

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My sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to the families involved.

Shannon... two people dead from a stupid, senseless act and you get hung up on a quote from a grief stricken former patient of the slain doctor? Don't fire away at people, especially ones quoted at the scene of a fresh crime, out of ignorance. Ms. Jamerson is quoted as saying "People loved her," and "I'm just so sorry for her family", and you take her to task for not being sypathetic? Think before you type.

Maybe you should reprioritize and focus on what's important here; two peoples lives forever changed in the most horrible way possible.
By ShannonK

1/13/09 at 8:52 a.m.

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Perhaps you are right, I should actually be upset with the newspaper for printing this stuff. I understand that people are griefstricken. I understand that and my heart goes out to them. On the other hand, I find it hard to be sympathetic toward someone who rushes to the scene when she shouldn't have been there in the first place and then proceeds to make an fool out of herself. I truly don't understand that at all.
By kurtswife

1/13/09 at 9:35 a.m.

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Dr. Makabenta was my husband and mother-in-law's doctor for years. Lately, I've been going to his appointments with him. We saw her Friday at 9:30. I was always impressed with her ability to recall his extensive medical history (kidney transplant) and individual needs without relying on his file too heavily. She spent almost an hour going over some recent test results and her action plan. She will be sorely missed by the number of people she helped and healed. Our heartfelt sympathies to her family, staff, friends and patients.
By mbdemaio

1/13/09 at 5:04 p.m.

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Oh my, haven't met her in person but Dr. Edna's sister my my classmate in Philippine BAR review 2008, and now a good friend of mine.

Our condolences to the Almaden family.
By margie

1/13/09 at 7:26 p.m.

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Dr Makebenta has been my doctor since 1997. I became seriously ill in 2000. Had it not been for Edna I would not be here today. She saved my life a total of four times and to this day has kept me healthy. I have never had a doctor so concerned over me. I still can not accept what has happened. My heart goes out to Paul and the children as well as Mr&Mrs Almaden and their family. Edna will be missed by all her patients and anyone else that she had contact with. I will always remember her soft voice and gentle smile and total kindness.
By MaryM

1/14/09 at 8:45 a.m.

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I don't live in NV any more, so didn't see the TV news reports. But I am appalled that the media apparently showed video footage of Mr. Barios, who named the victim and the shooter. Can this truly be? Imagine how a family would feel, being informed of a loved one's death via television. How did Jameson find out it was our beloved Edna? If via the TV news, then they should be chastised. Fewer people would be at crimes scenes if the media didn't advertise an "invitation."
By kotasuria

1/16/09 at 12:17 a.m.

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Dr. Edna Almaden Makabenta is a dear friend from way back our medical training. Her son Mike is my God-son. I have visited her in Las Vegas on few occasions. I know her to be a competent and very professional physician. A kind good natured human being. I'll miss you edna. ed

RIP edna.
By arragleane_bsn

1/16/09 at 11:43 p.m.

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My condolonces to the family of my Aunt(tita)edna, though i dont know her personally and all i knew and met is my Uncle paul makabenta. It is very unjustifiable that my aunt who as i've seen the comments and blogs about her shows that she is a very nice person.it's sad that we werent been given or able to have a chance to met each other when we visited lolo and lola during our vacation in tacloban.
i do not know how to reach tito paul so i just decided to extend my condolences here.My mom Lydia Makabenta who is my Tito Paul's cousin's also want to extend to tito paul and to the whole family her mourning and condolonces.Our whole family extends our prayers to tita edna and to her family.
I hope that what happened to mmy aunt won't happen again to anyone or to anybody especially to those who were innocent.
--Maria Arra Makabenta Gleane from PLARIDEL BULACAN PHILIPPINES
By loctavia_ricafort

1/24/09 at 7:55 p.m.

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Dr. Edna Almaden Makabenta was my highcschool classmate in Tacloban City and I knew her very well.She was a good and kind hearted person.I just remembered our highschool days. I've been away from the Philippines for a long time thus lost communication with her. Heard the news from one of our classmates. It's just so sad that I wasn't given a chance to see her though and am very sure it's a great loss for NEVADA specially her patients and family.We will miss you Edna.
My deepest sympathy to Almaden Family and Makabenta Family. May you Rest in Peace!

*Lilia Octaviano-Ricafort-Toronto, Canada