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Metro: Shooting Spree Follows Domestic Fight

Man Dead, Woman And Man Severely Injured In Shooting

POSTED: 5:32 pm PST March 9, 2010
UPDATED: 10:58 pm PST March 9, 2010

A domestic dispute on Monday at a Las Vegas apartment complex led to a shooting spree that ended with one man dead and two others severely injured, according to a Metro police report.

Video: Police Charge Suspect After Shooting Spree

Investigators said Gabriel Santa-Cruz, 26, who was being treated at Sunrise Hospital on Tuesday, was booked “in absentia” into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of murder with a deadly weapon, two counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon, two counts of attempted murder of a police officer and probation violation for unlawful possession of a firearm.

Video: Neighbors React To Triple-Shooting In Complex

The arrest report said one of the victims, Krystal Madera, was in a relationship with Santa-Cruz. The two lived together with roommate Daniel Espinosa, 21, at the Silver Pines Apartment Complex at 6650 East Russell Road. Espinosa said he awoke to Madera and Santa-Cruz fighting because she was leaving him for another man.

Video: Vegas Man Shoots 3 Before Being Shot By Police

Espinosa said he walked into the bathroom where they were arguing and saw Santa-Cruz had a gun and was talking about killing himself and not wanting to go alone. He refused to put down the gun he was pointing at them, and Espinosa said he appeared to be acting like he was on methamphetamine, the report said.

The report said Espinosa tried to get Santa-Cruz to drop the gun, but he fired at Espinosa, shooting him in the hand. Espinosa said he fell into the tub and acted more injured than he was to try to avoid being hit again. He said he then saw Santa-Cruz turn the gun on Madera and shoot her in the face.

Espinosa said Santa-Cruz tried to shoot Madera again but the gun jammed. That’s when Espinosa said he fled the apartment, with Santa-Cruz following. Espinosa was shot in the chest as he ran, but he was able to call 911 from a neighbor’s residence, the report said.

Both Espinosa and Madera were being treated at Sunrise Hospital on Tuesday. Madera was being treated for a gunshot wound to the forehead. She said the man who was shot dead at the scene was her mother’s boyfriend, Oscar Carmona-Mata, who was at the apartment to help her move out, although police have not yet positively identified him. Police said they found a man who appeared to be dead from a gunshot wound to the head lying in the complex's parking lot.

As Metro police arrived at the complex just before 2 p.m. Monday, they said they found Santa-Cruz standing in the parking lot near Carmona-Mata’s truck. Police said Santa-Cruz pointed a gun at them and began firing. After an exchange of gunfire, Santa-Cruz was struck multiple times before dropping his gun, the report said.

Video: Evidence May Be On Child After 4 Shot

Police said they found Santa-Cruz’s 2-year-old son in the truck, covered in blood but unharmed. Police said they found Madera and Espinosa in neighboring residences. The two were in fair condition Tuesday evening.


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