Police report: Fight didn’t ruin Las Vegas wedding reception; gunshots did

By Brian Nordli

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014 | 5:34 p.m.

It was, Peter Andrade told his girlfriend, “somebody’s special day, and I don’t want to ruin it by fighting here.”

A Metro Police arrest report released today indicates Andrade made good on the promise not to fight at the wedding reception Saturday night in Las Vegas. Instead, however, police say Andrade shot five people during postnuptial celebration before he was arrested.

Police arrested Andrade, 24, on four counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon. He also faces one count each of battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm, discharging a firearm within an occupied structure, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

According to a Metro arrest report, Andrade fired five shots at a man while in the men’s restroom during the reception at El Palacio Del Sol banquet hall, 953 E. Sahara Ave. The victim was able to get out of the restroom and shouted that he had been shot.

When two friends asked about the shooter, the victim pointed at Andrade, who was running out of the restroom, the report said.

The two friends chased after Andrade and tackled him at the door. Once Andrade was on the ground, several other wedding guests joined in and began kicking and punching him. That’s when, the police report said, Andrade pulled out his gun a second time and fired three shots.

One shot hit a man in the left arm and ankle, another shot hit a man in the right elbow, a third shot hit a man's left forearm and grazed a woman in the upper thigh, the report said.

Andrade, with the help of his girlfriend, was able to escape through the front door before security officers caught and detained him.

One man was transported to University Medical Center in critical condition with 10 gunshot wounds. The other four who had been shot suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.

The shootings left a trail of blood, bullet holes and bullet fragments inside El Palacio Del Sol, the report said.

Reports differ as to what precipitated the violence. Andrade’s girlfriend told police it stemmed from a previous argument between her and the first victim prior to the wedding.

Andrade’s girlfriend said the victim and Andrade then argued during the reception, but Andrade said he wouldn’t fight, the report said.

Andrade’s girlfriend didn’t believe Andrade had a gun and said nothing appeared out of the ordinary until she heard gunshots from the restroom, the report said.

Andrade told police bad blood existed between him and his girlfriend’s family. Andrade, a convicted felon, told police he had become a member of Nevada Trece prison gang while serving in Nevada State Prison. Members of his girlfriend’s family were from the rival 28th Street Gang, causing the bad blood, the report said.

Andrade claimed he had gone into the restroom during the party and was hit from behind in the head. He heard three gunshots and then ran, the report said. That’s when a crowd of people attacked him, he said, and then he heard several more gunshots.

By the time he made it to the parking lot, event security chased after him and arrested him, he told police.

Andrade was booked into Clark County Detention Center without bond.

Late today, a spokeswoman for the Clark County District Attorney’s Office said prosecutors had not yet filed charges in the case.