Las Vegas: Murder suicide attempt leaves 19-year-old girl hospitalized, father dead

(photo: flickr by bigmikelakers)

Father dead, daughter hospitalized in murder suicide attempt

Las Vegas — In what appears to have been a murder suicide attempt, a father shoots his 19-year-old daughter multiple times and then killed himself right in front of her.

The murder suicide attempt took place at the Regency Heights Apartments, located on Lake Mead Boulevard, on Tuesday evening just after 6:15 p.m.

She told police that she and her 52-year-old father, Rene Espinal, lived together and that he had talked about suicide in the past.

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He was apparently still despondent about his divorce that occurred within the past two years.

On Tuesday evening, he again talked about suicide and he and his daughter argued.

He shot his daughter and she was able to run out of the apartment.

The father followed his daughter outside and shot her multiple times.

He then was out of bullets and went to obtain more ammunition.

After reloading his gun, he walked back over to where his daughter was and proceeded to shoot himself in the head.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Since he shot his daughter so many times, as many as eight, it appears that the father was attempting a murder suicide and not interested in just harming himself.

Domestic violence and suicides tend to increase during the holiday season and help is available 24/7 to those that are suicidal and for victims of domestic abuse.

The National Suicide Prevention line has trained counselors available around the clock to talk to anyone needing help.  They can be reached at 1-800-273-8255.  They also offer web chat on their website.

Safe Nest has a 24 hour hotline, 702-564-3227.  Visitors to the site can also click on a red X located throughout the site to quickly be directed to another page if the need arises.

Victims of domestic violence can visit the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) which has an extensive state coalition resource list , broken down by state, where you can obtain help.

In Las Vegas,  the Southern Nevada Domestic Violence Task Force offers a number of  resources.

The Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence website also offers resources, education and assistance to combat domestic violence.

The daughter who appears to have been the target in the murder suicide attempt has not been identified by police and is, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal, in stable condition and expected to recover from the numerous gunshots that she received.

Related articles

• Las Vegas Murder suicide on Thanksgiving Eve
• Daughter Of Murder/Suicide Victims Says It Could Have Been Prevented
• Deaths of father, daughter ruled murder-suicide

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