LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Police in Las Vegas are asking anyone with information about a drive-by shooting on Halloween that took the life of a 22-year-old woman to come forward after running out of leads.
"It's very challenging and that's why I want to make sure we keep this out in the public's eye," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Lt. Ray Spencer. "We are at a point now where our investigative leads have pretty much dried up."
Graciela Gomez, a member of the Nevada Army National Guard, was shot and killed when a four-door sedan drove by a costume party at a home on Beesley Drive, near Stewart and Nellis, police say.
There were multiple people in the car. Citing low-quality surveillance video, police say they are unsure what color the car is.
The party, which took place inside a rented house for the night, became very crowded after an invite was widely shared on social media, police say. Because there were so many people in attendance, the host began to pat people down for security reasons at the front door.
At some point, a group of men arrived and refused to be patted down, police say. There was a confrontation and they were kicked out.
Moments later, the car drove by and shot Gomez and two other people. The other two survived.
"All of us go to parties," said Spencer, calling Gomez's death "senseless." "She did nothing wrong."
Spencer says investigators are having a hard time identifying the shooter in part because of the low-quality surveillance video and because so many people attending the party left before officers arrived.
"There's someone out there who knows who is responsible for it and we've been working the last several months trying to identify a suspect," said Spencer. "I urge anybody who was at that party that has not talked with an investigator, please, reach out to Homicide so we can talk to you because you may have the little piece of the puzzle that solves this murder."
"I want to make sure we do absolutely everything to make sure we bring justice to her family. Someone needs to be held responsible for her death," he added.
Spencer was joined by Nevada Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Troy Armstrong and members of Graciela Gomez’s family during the press update.
Anyone with further information is can call LVMPD's Homicide section at 702-828-3521 or email Homicide@lvmpd.com. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.
Watch remarks from authorities and loved ones of Graciela Gomez below:
