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Casino violence
For the second time in three months, gunshots
result in death at a Las Vegas gambling house
By Keith Paul
LAS VEGAS SUN
A small group of people gathered near the sports
book inside the Stardust hotel-casino Monday morning
and watched as a man was handcuffed after a
shooting. Others didn't know what happened and just
continued gambling.
Anthony Cuccia, 59, had been seen spending most of
Monday morning sitting quietly in the sports book. But
then for some unknown reason, Metro Police say, at
about 11:45 a.m. he pulled out a large-caliber revolver
and shot a 56-year-old Las Vegas man twice.
Police said the victim was sitting in a seat in the first
few rows in front of the betting counter. After he was
shot, he ran out of the sports book and collapsed
about 10 feet outside the door, police said.
Paramedics rushed him to University Medical Center,
but he died at 12:52 p.m. Cuccia was held in the Clark
County jail without bail.
The victim's name had not been released as of this
morning while the coroner's office tried to contact his
family.
"We haven't been able to find any relationship
between the victim and Anthony Cuccia," homicide Lt.
Wayne Petersen said. "There are several rumors out
there, but we haven't been able to verify any of them."
Both men were known to frequent the Stardust's sports
book, but there is no indication they were friends, he
said.
Darrell Olson sat just a few seats away from Cuccia
earlier in the morning.
"He was just sitting there expressionless," said Olson,
who is visiting Las Vegas from Minnesota. "He was
there for a couple hours."
Olson and his wife, who was a few feet away playing
slot machines, hit the floor when the shots were fired.
"I couldn't believe it was happening," Olson said as he
stood outside the Stardust next to his wife, who still
carried a handful of quarters from the slot machines.
After the shooting, police said, Cuccia simply walked
over to the betting counter and put the gun down. He
was then taken into custody without incident.
Police said Cuccia has a 1996 conviction for
conspiracy to commit grand larceny in Nevada, and he
also had been convicted four times in New York
starting back in 1960 for unlawful entry, attempted
grand larceny, a narcotics-related charge and escape.
The shooting inside the Stardust was the second
inside a Las Vegas casino in the past three months.
On Nov. 10, Gloria Cohns, a 37-year-old blackjack
dealer, was shot to death inside the Golden Gate on
Fremont Street. Larry D. Taylor, 37, was charged with
murder. He is currently in a state mental facility.
Taylor, Cohns' ex-boyfriend, was ordered to remain at
Lake's Crossing near Sparks until he is mentally
competent to stand trial.
Weapons are not allowed in casinos, but patrons don't
pass through metal detectors.
Robert Ravdel, who says he has been going to sports
books for 10 years, stood outside the Stardust
Monday afternoon talking about the need for more
security.
"Customers have got to worry about this," he said.
"What's a (security surveillance) camera gonna do?
Record the guy getting shot?"
The slaying at the Stardust is the 15th homicide so far
this year in Metro's jurisdiction, compared to five at the
same point last year.
Keith Paul covers crime and public safety for the Sun.
He can be reached at (702) 259-4057 or by e-mail at
[email protected].
For the second time in three months, gunshots
result in death at a Las Vegas gambling house
By Keith Paul
LAS VEGAS SUN
A small group of people gathered near the sports
book inside the Stardust hotel-casino Monday morning
and watched as a man was handcuffed after a
shooting. Others didn't know what happened and just
continued gambling.
Anthony Cuccia, 59, had been seen spending most of
Monday morning sitting quietly in the sports book. But
then for some unknown reason, Metro Police say, at
about 11:45 a.m. he pulled out a large-caliber revolver
and shot a 56-year-old Las Vegas man twice.
Police said the victim was sitting in a seat in the first
few rows in front of the betting counter. After he was
shot, he ran out of the sports book and collapsed
about 10 feet outside the door, police said.
Paramedics rushed him to University Medical Center,
but he died at 12:52 p.m. Cuccia was held in the Clark
County jail without bail.
The victim's name had not been released as of this
morning while the coroner's office tried to contact his
family.
"We haven't been able to find any relationship
between the victim and Anthony Cuccia," homicide Lt.
Wayne Petersen said. "There are several rumors out
there, but we haven't been able to verify any of them."
Both men were known to frequent the Stardust's sports
book, but there is no indication they were friends, he
said.
Darrell Olson sat just a few seats away from Cuccia
earlier in the morning.
"He was just sitting there expressionless," said Olson,
who is visiting Las Vegas from Minnesota. "He was
there for a couple hours."
Olson and his wife, who was a few feet away playing
slot machines, hit the floor when the shots were fired.
"I couldn't believe it was happening," Olson said as he
stood outside the Stardust next to his wife, who still
carried a handful of quarters from the slot machines.
After the shooting, police said, Cuccia simply walked
over to the betting counter and put the gun down. He
was then taken into custody without incident.
Police said Cuccia has a 1996 conviction for
conspiracy to commit grand larceny in Nevada, and he
also had been convicted four times in New York
starting back in 1960 for unlawful entry, attempted
grand larceny, a narcotics-related charge and escape.
The shooting inside the Stardust was the second
inside a Las Vegas casino in the past three months.
On Nov. 10, Gloria Cohns, a 37-year-old blackjack
dealer, was shot to death inside the Golden Gate on
Fremont Street. Larry D. Taylor, 37, was charged with
murder. He is currently in a state mental facility.
Taylor, Cohns' ex-boyfriend, was ordered to remain at
Lake's Crossing near Sparks until he is mentally
competent to stand trial.
Weapons are not allowed in casinos, but patrons don't
pass through metal detectors.
Robert Ravdel, who says he has been going to sports
books for 10 years, stood outside the Stardust
Monday afternoon talking about the need for more
security.
"Customers have got to worry about this," he said.
"What's a (security surveillance) camera gonna do?
Record the guy getting shot?"
The slaying at the Stardust is the 15th homicide so far
this year in Metro's jurisdiction, compared to five at the
same point last year.
Keith Paul covers crime and public safety for the Sun.
He can be reached at (702) 259-4057 or by e-mail at
[email protected].
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