Man sought in ‘suspicious’ disappearance dies after shooting himself in North Las Vegas

By Ian Whitaker

Published Friday, Nov. 7, 2014 | 11:31 a.m.

Updated Friday, Nov. 7, 2014 | 6:20 p.m.

A man who shot himself this morning outside a Burger King in North Las Vegas, one half of a couple missing since Wednesday, has died, officials said.

University Medical Center spokeswoman Erica Nansen said 75-year-old Samuel Teran died about 3 p.m. at the hospital.

Teran, 75, was exiting the drive-thru of the fast-food restaurant on Las Vegas Boulevard near Bruce Street about 9 a.m. when a North Las Vegas Police officer attempted to stop his sport utility vehicle, according to a statement from Metro Police. Teran then shot himself, the statement said.

He was taken to University Medical Center.

North Las Vegas Police had received calls about a suspicious vehicle at the Burger King, North Las Vegas Police Officer Steven Wiese said. He did not say what made people suspicious.

Teran was driving a white 1999 Isuzu Rodeo police had been searching for since Teran and Susana Villalvazo, 46, were reported missing under what police deemed “suspicious circumstances,” the Metro statement said.

Villalvazo is still missing, the statement said.

She is Hispanic, weighs about 140 pounds and is 5 feet 6-inches tall. She has a pink ribbon tattoo on her left wrist and is missing a breast, police said.

She may be using the names “Angelica Acosta” or “Susana Villalvazo-Jimenez,” police said.

Police ask anyone with information to contact the Metro’s homicide section at 702-828-3521 or via email at [email protected]. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or online at crimestoppersofnv.com.

Sun reporter Pashtana Usufzy contributed to this report.