By ANTONIO PLANAS
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
The threat of losing his girlfriend sparked a shooting rampage by a 26-year-old man in a southeast valley apartment complex Monday afternoon, a police report released Tuesday said.
The incident ended in one man's death while the suspect's two roommates were seriously injured
The report identified Gabriel Giovanni Santacruz as the man who fatally shot Oscar Omar Carmona-Mata. The report added that Santacruz also shot his girlfriend, Krystal Madera, in the face, and his cousin, Daniel Espinosa. Both Madera and Espinosa lived with Santacruz, the report said.
The incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. at the Silver Pines Apartments, 6650 E. Russell Road, near Boulder Highway.
The shooting spree ended when Santacruz encountered police. Two officers fired their weapons at Santacruz after he fired his 9 mm weapon at the officers at least once, police said. Santacruz was struck by police gunfire several times. He survived his injuries and was booked in absentia on several charges -- including murder -- at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.
Espinosa, 21, told police he was awakened by Santacruz and Madera arguing with each other.
Espinosa heard Madera telling Santacruz "she was leaving him and seeing another man," the report said.
Espinosa saw Santacruz holding a gun while Madera was holding her 2-year-old child, who Santacruz fathered.
Santacruz "kept talking about killing himself, but not wanting to go alone," the report said.
The report said Santacruz forced Madera and Espinosa into a bathroom. Espinosa pleaded for Santacruz to put the gun down, but Santacruz fired and hit Espinosa in the hand as he was shielding his face. Madera was then shot in the face, the report said.
Espinosa ran out of the apartment and was chased by Santacruz, who then shot him in the upper right chest, the report said. The report noted that Espinosa told police he suspected Santacruz was on methamphetamine.
Las Vegas police spokesman Bill Cassell said Monday's shooting indicates how unpredictable law enforcement situations can be.
"This illustrates the dangers officers face every day," Cassell said. "Any call can immediately turn into a dynamic situation involving life and death decisions on the part of the officers."
Police said Monday that the victims fled the apartment in an attempt to survive the attack.
"We have multiple scenes. We have blood trails," Capt. Randy Montandon said.
The report said police encountered the gun-weilding Santacruz next to a Ford truck in the complex's parking lot. He pointed his left hand at the officers, then he fired his weapon with his right hand, it said.
Santacruz was struck by police gunfire in the neck, left shoulder and thigh. The two officers shot at were not injured. The report said they found Santacruz's 2-year-old son covered in blood, but unharmed in the front seat of a pickup. Carmona-Mata was the registered owner of the truck, the report said.
It is unclear what Carmona-Mata's relationship with Santacruz was. But Madera told police she had been taken to the complex Monday by her mother's boyfriend, "Oscar," who was going to help her move things out of the apartment.
Madera, Espinosa, and Santacruz were all listed in fair condition at Sunrise, a hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday afternoon.
Ages for Carmona-Mata and Madera were unavailable.
Police recommended several charges against Santacruz including murder, two counts of attempted murder of a police officer, two counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon, resisting a public officer with a weapon, and probation violation.
Last year Santacruz pleaded guilty to felony possession of a controlled substance, according to Clark County court records. He was sentenced to three years' probation.
Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.
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