Police believe rapper was targeted for murder
Las Vegas police believe a 22-year-old aspiring rapper shot outside a northwest valley bar this week probably was intentionally targeted, and his death was not the result of a random crime of opportunity.
However, detectives have yet to determine a motive in the Wednesday night slaying, Las Vegas police Lt. Lew Roberts said.
"It's just really odd," Roberts said.
Police are urging the public to come forward with information either through calls to their homicide section or through Crime Stoppers.
Surveillance video of the parking lot of the Tenaya Creek Brewery, where Michael Alano Portaro was selling tickets to a rap concert about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, captured Portaro's killer sitting on a nearby bench, according to the brewery's general manager.
After Portaro was alone and sitting in his car with the door open, the suspect walked up, shot him and drove away in Portaro's car. The video did not capture the slaying, but showed Portaro's car driving away while Portaro was slumped on the pavement, the general manger said. Portaro was found with money on his person, leading investigators to discount robbery as a motive. The car was later found, abandoned.
His death has shaken Portaro's friends and the Faith Lutheran Junior/Senior High School Community where he played quarterback and graduated in 2006.
Portaro, known as Mikey P., performed with the hip-hop group Ekoh. He was at the brew pub, 3101 N. Tenaya Way near Cheyenne Avenue, Wednesday selling tickets to his group's Thursday night concert in Henderson.
Anybody with information on the slaying is encouraged to call the department's homicide section at 828-3521 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 385-5555. Cash rewards of up to $2,000 are available to tipsters who provide information that directly leads to a felony arrest or indictment.
Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.
