Hostage standoff suspect tied to previous home invasion
The man arrested Thursday for breaking into a woman’s home and taking her family hostage was wanted by police for a nearly identical crime earlier this month.
Sean P. Cordeiro, 33, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on multiple felonies, including kidnapping, home invasion, robbery, burglary and attempted sexual assault charges, Las Vegas police said.
Police said Cordeiro kicked in the door of a woman’s home in the 7800 block of Millhopper Avenue after he watched her husband leave the house about 5 a.m.
The woman heard the break-in and locked herself and her three children in the second-story master bedroom, police said, and tried to call her husband. When she was unable to reach him, she called 911.
Metro patrol and SWAT officers quickly surrounded the neighborhood near Lake Mead Boulevard and Buffalo Drive. Officers eventually propped a ladder against the back of the house and were able to rescue the mother and her children as they escaped through the bedroom window.
If the break-in methods described Thursday sound familiar, that’s because they are.
Police said Cordeiro is also the suspect in a Feb. 1 home invasion about 4:30 a.m. on Grace Street in the southeast valley. He kicked in the door to a woman’s home and held her captive while he stole things from her home, including a gun and her van, police said.
Metro asked several times for the public’s help in identifying the suspect in that case, and released a surveillance video of their suspect on Wednesday.
Sgt. Steve Candelas said detectives identified Cordeiro as the suspect in both home invasions after he was arrested Thursday. Cordeiro hasn’t been booked for the earlier crimes, but those charges are imminent, he said.
“He’s a violent suspect who is now off our streets,” Candelas said.
The victims in both cases were unharmed, although terrified from the experience, police said.
Police said Cordeiro told the woman in Thursday’s incident that he didn’t want to hurt her.
Cordeiro was likely trying to steal cash and other items he could quickly sell, Candelas said. Although Cordeiro took a gun in the first home invasion, no gun was found on Thursday.
Thanks to the woman’s bravery, Candelas said, the victims were able to escape without injury. The woman remained calm while speaking to 911 dispatchers, which allowed the officers’ to quickly and safely rescue the family, he said.
“We do know our victim was very, very scared,” Candelas said, “and she did an excellent job of protecting her children.”
Police entered the home shortly after the hostages escaped. Cordeiro was arrested about 8 a.m.
Candelas said Cordeiro spray-painted explicit, anti-police graffiti on the home before he was arrested, but the vulgar messages might have given detectives a clue about Cordeiro’s previous exploits.
Candelas said Cordeiro’s distinct graffiti has been found at crime scenes across the valley.
Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283. Contact reporter Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0391.
