MJMANDALAY
02-22-2007, 05:32 PM
A man was shot to death in the parking lot of a drug treatment center on Wednesday, after he got into a fight with another man over a parking space, Las Vegas police said.
The man, who was not identified, was found lying dead in the parking lot of Choices Group Inc., a drug treatment center at 800 S. Valley View Blvd., near Charleston Boulevard, about 5:45 p.m., said Lt. Lew Roberts of the Metropolitan Police Department's homicide unit.
The victim pulled out a knife after he got into a fight with the suspect over a parking space, Roberts said.
The suspect then pulled out a gun and shot him once in the chest, police said.
The suspect then fled in a red car with a spoiler on the back, police said.
Police believe both men received services at the center.
"It's sad, people killing each other over a parking spot," said Raul Mata, 36, who was at the drug center when the shooting occurred.
Mata said he was leaving the center a little before 6 p.m. when he was ushered back inside because of the shooting.
One woman, who identified herself only as Kelly, said she was asleep in her car waiting for her 16-year-old son, who attended classes at the center, when she heard the gunshot.
"I ran to the center because I thought my son was in danger," she said.
The center, next to Hyde Park Elementary School, was a subject of debate in 2002 when it was licensed as a medical office instead of a drug treatment center.
Residents and businesses in the area complained, saying the center attracted criminals.
Las Vegas police opened an investigation into how the center received its license after then-Las Vegas Councilman Michael McDonald accused city employees of allowing the facility to open after reclassifying it as a medical office.
"There are people (who go to the drug treatment center) who I wouldn't invite into my business," said Brent Muhlenberg, owner of RB & Co., an accounting firm located nearby.
RB & Co. was burglarized about a week ago, and a neighboring business was burglarized twice in the last two months, he said.
Muhlenberg said he is tired of the crime and is moving to a new location.
The area has "taken a significant downward trend," he said.
Choices Group conducts court-ordered outpatient counseling and drug-screening.
The man, who was not identified, was found lying dead in the parking lot of Choices Group Inc., a drug treatment center at 800 S. Valley View Blvd., near Charleston Boulevard, about 5:45 p.m., said Lt. Lew Roberts of the Metropolitan Police Department's homicide unit.
The victim pulled out a knife after he got into a fight with the suspect over a parking space, Roberts said.
The suspect then pulled out a gun and shot him once in the chest, police said.
The suspect then fled in a red car with a spoiler on the back, police said.
Police believe both men received services at the center.
"It's sad, people killing each other over a parking spot," said Raul Mata, 36, who was at the drug center when the shooting occurred.
Mata said he was leaving the center a little before 6 p.m. when he was ushered back inside because of the shooting.
One woman, who identified herself only as Kelly, said she was asleep in her car waiting for her 16-year-old son, who attended classes at the center, when she heard the gunshot.
"I ran to the center because I thought my son was in danger," she said.
The center, next to Hyde Park Elementary School, was a subject of debate in 2002 when it was licensed as a medical office instead of a drug treatment center.
Residents and businesses in the area complained, saying the center attracted criminals.
Las Vegas police opened an investigation into how the center received its license after then-Las Vegas Councilman Michael McDonald accused city employees of allowing the facility to open after reclassifying it as a medical office.
"There are people (who go to the drug treatment center) who I wouldn't invite into my business," said Brent Muhlenberg, owner of RB & Co., an accounting firm located nearby.
RB & Co. was burglarized about a week ago, and a neighboring business was burglarized twice in the last two months, he said.
Muhlenberg said he is tired of the crime and is moving to a new location.
The area has "taken a significant downward trend," he said.
Choices Group conducts court-ordered outpatient counseling and drug-screening.