Police: Dad was target of shooter, not girl - News

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Jun. 26, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Police: Dad was target of shooter, not girl

By ANTONIO PLANAS
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

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Will Bullins, shown June 13 in North Las Vegas, refused to comment Thursday on a report that he was selling drugs.
Photo by John Locher.

The father of a 9-year-old girl was the intended target of a shooting that took his daughter's life earlier this month because he was selling marijuana in the neighborhood, a police report released Thursday said.

Will Bullins' daughter did not survive the spray of bullets meant for him as he was standing on his balcony June 12 at his two-story apartment on 2112 Sun Ave., near Civic Center Drive and Cheyenne Avenue, according to the North Las Vegas police report.

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Bullins' daughter Savannah was shot while playing with her younger sister in the second-floor living room.

Police arrested Marcus Dewayne Larry, 27, on Wednesday and charged him with a slew of counts, including murder with use of a deadly weapon.

But according to the report, a second suspect, Kenneth Reid, 20, who was still at large Thursday evening, was the gunman who fired 10 9mm bullets into the apartment.

Larry also was charged with murder with a deadly weapon because he acted in concert with Reid during the crime, the report said.

Police have identified three witnesses, whose names were not released in the report, who saw either the shooting or the two suspects fleeing the scene. All three witnesses identified themselves as gang members.

"Willie Bullins was targeted, because he had been selling drugs in the neighborhood," the report documented one witness as saying. "Apparently, Marcus and Kenny did not want the competition for the drug market."

That gang member told police he was a member of the Crips.

The two other police informants identified themselves as members of the Hoodsman Bloods, according to the report. The report added that the Crips member said Reid and Larry were "taking back the neighborhood for the Bloods."

Bullins, 29, interviewed by phone Thursday, said he would not comment on the report's allegation that he was selling drugs out of the apartment. He disputed investigators' contention earlier this week that the shooting was drug-related.

But he credited police for the arrest of Larry, saying they are doing a "wonderful job."

Bullins also said he cherished his daughter. "I love her, and I miss her dearly."

The report said one of the gang members would be willing to testify in court and implied a second also would be willing to do so.

Police Sgt. Tim Bedwell said he is not concerned that some of the police witnesses are reputed gang members.

He said there was enough evidence against Reid and Larry for the arrest warrants. He said he feels confident the case will go to trial.

"The evidence is going to be weighed by a jury," Bedwell said. "The ultimate test is how the jury views it."

Larry served time in prison for battery with a deadly weapon and trafficking a controlled substance, according to the Nevada Department of Corrections.

Reid served time for assault with a deadly weapon, a charge that was enhanced because the crime was gang-related.

Bedwell said he is hopeful residents will step up and help police catch Reid because the crime has "outraged" the neighborhood.

"The key to finding him is that someone in the community will come forward and let us know where he's at," Bedwell said.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Raji Kaur (Savannah's Mother) wrote on July 26, 2009 03:48 PM: Today is Savannah's Birthday. She would have been 10 years old today. Regardless of why these people did this or did not do it, the point that they should confess and face the consequences of what they have done still remains. Stop trying to figure out why they did it and pray that the Mr. Ried turns himself in and they both confess. Finally, if you still talk to this guy, then tell him to do what is right by my daughter. Thank You sjohnson@aol.com wrote on June 26, 2009 08:43 AM: Is Kenneth Reid, the alleged shooter one of Harry Reid's sons? again wrote on June 26, 2009 08:35 AM: Unfortunatly both suspects will get off scott free because none of the witness will actually testify in court...we have seen this before back in november klaatu wrote on June 26, 2009 07:25 AM: Back in the 1920's, we tried prohibition of the most popular and most dangerous drug. What we wound up with was widespread illicit alcohol use and large gangs who killed each other often in wars over 'turf'. There was a huge business importing the stuff from other countries. Hundreds of people were imprisoned. Police and government officials became corrupted because of the huge amounts of money involved in bootleg liquor. Now that it is legal, we still have lots of problems with alcohol, but at least gangs don't kill over it and police don't have to chase down illegal stills. We have the same situation today with illegal drugs. It only took about ten years to see that liquor prohibition was a failure. How long before we realize that our drug war has also failed. We need to try a different approach. Narrow thinker wrote on June 26, 2009 06:58 AM: Dear Frank, I guess you have all the answers, I guess we all did not realize that legalizing drugs would put a stop to all gang violence, maybe even make them all become friends. Just like the theory that getting rid of all guns will stop people from getting shot, I am sure all gang members would willingly give them up once it becomes law to own one. From what I read of your post this innocent little girl would still be alive if only we all had legal access to drugs, please honor her memory and think next time you post something like this, I am sure the father, even if he is guilty or not of selling, would have given up his sideline and drugs altogether just to have his little angel back. Frank wrote on June 26, 2009 04:42 AM: You'll come around, Gary. Drug prohibition took that little girl's life, and drug prohibition contuinues to ruin hundreds of times more lives than all the illegal drugs combined. Legalizing drugs and regulating them is the only way to avoid tragedies like this. I'm just one of millions of Americans would like to see the government correct this grave social error in our lifetime. gary wrote on June 26, 2009 03:47 AM: What a surprise..........I don't believe we should legalize illegal drugs, but we are not even close to winning the so called "WAR" on drugs. Stop bailing out these "BIG" corporations, and start saving our neighborhoods. May GOD receive this little girl into his caring hands.