Homicides

North Las Vegas murder suspect a UNLV graduate student

Giovanni Ruiz (North Las Vegas Police Department)

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In a frame grab from a body-worn camera video provided by the Metropolitan Police Department, a ...

Officer who killed Brandon Durham was dispatched to his home 24 hours earlier

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Woman wants to withdraw guilty plea in death of Henderson man found decapitated

By Alexis Egeland Las Vegas Review-Journal

September 11, 2019 - 2:55 pm

Updated September 11, 2019 - 4:14 pm

The 21-year-old man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend last week is a graduate student at UNLV, the university confirmed.

Paula Davis, 19, also a UNLV student who was studying economics, was found dead in her van at a North Las Vegas park Friday night. On Tuesday, police arrested Giovanni Ruiz, whom they said previously dated Davis.

Ruiz graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the university in May. He is now a graduate student studying accounting, according to UNLV spokeswoman Cindy Brown.

Ruiz remained held at the Las Vegas Detention Center without bail on Wednesday, and his initial court appearance is set for Monday. He faces a charge of murder with a deadly weapon.

He does not appear to have a criminal history in Clark County, according to online court records.

Contact Alexis Egeland at aegeland@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0335. Follow @alexis_egeland on Twitter.

‘The family is broken’: Crowd marches on Fremont Street in honor of Brandon Durham

By Annie Vong / RJ

November 25, 2024 - 9:06 am

Brandon Durham, 43, was shot and killed by a Las Vegas police officer in his home after reporting a break-in on Nov. 12.

Officer who killed Brandon Durham was dispatched to his home 24 hours earlier

By Estelle Atkinson / RJ

November 22, 2024 - 3:36 pm

The officer who shot and killed Brandon Durham on Nov. 12 was dispatched to his house after Durham called to trespass a “house guest” on Nov. 10, police records show.

Competency evaluation ordered for Henderson man accused of killing wife, stepson

By Katelyn Newberg / RJ

November 21, 2024 - 5:56 pm

Karl Groschen will undergo a competency evaluation after he was charged with fatally shooting his wife and stepson last month in Henderson.

Woman wants to withdraw guilty plea in death of Henderson man found decapitated

By Noble Brigham / RJ

November 22, 2024 - 1:22 am

Police accused Devyn Michaels of killing Johnathan Willette in August 2023 after he tried to force her to perform a sex act on him.

Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Section Lt. Jason Johansson speaks during a press confe ...

Man arrested in fatal stabbing in northeast Las Vegas

By Caitlin Lilly / RJ

November 21, 2024 - 10:04 am

A 33-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing in the northeast valley.

One dead in fatal stabbing in northeast Las Vegas

By Akiya Dillon / RJ

November 19, 2024 - 7:45 pm

A man was stabbed to death in northeast Las Vegas by another man who then ran away, according to police.

Robert Telles reacts in the courtroom to his sentencing at the Regional Justice Center in Las V ...

Robert Telles appeals conviction in RJ reporter’s murder

By Katelyn Newberg / RJ

November 18, 2024 - 4:03 pm

Robert Telles has filed a handwritten notice of his intent to appeal his criminal conviction for the murder of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German.

Relatives of man killed by Las Vegas police call for officer’s arrest

By Katelyn Newberg / RJ

November 18, 2024 - 6:27 pm

The family of Brandon Durham, who was killed by police after calling 911 to report a break-in, is pushing for the arrest of the officer who shot him.

Brandon Durham and Steve Cowan are seen in an undated, provided photo. (Courtesy)

‘Very questionable’ or ‘objectively reasonable’? Experts weigh in on police shooting

By Noble Brigham / RJ

November 16, 2024 - 10:43 pm

Brandon Durham was killed by a police officer after he reported a break-in, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Man shot dead by Las Vegas officer had called 911 to report break-in, police say

By Akiya Dillon and Noble Brigham / RJ

November 15, 2024 - 8:55 am

The man shot and killed by a Las Vegas police officer earlier this week was shot after calling 911 to report that his home was being broken into, police said.