Reward increased in death of man shot near brew pub

After 42 days without an arrest in the slaying of his son, Richard Portaro hopes the expression "money talks" comes true.

To that end, Portaro, whose son Michael Alano Portaro, 22, was fatally shot outside of a northwest valley brew pub on March 30, announced Wednesday that family and friends have raised a $30,000 reward for information that leads to the killer's conviction.

In addition to the $30,000, tipsters can take advantage of an extra $2,000 offered by Crime Stoppers if they provide assistance with the Metropolitan Police Department's investigation.

Police, who have chased tips in vain, admit they have not identified a suspect who was caught on surveillance video before the shooting.

"We're not playing games anymore," Portaro said. "We're going to get this guy."

He added that reward money provides a huge incentive for people to cooperate with police.

"For $2,000, maybe you're not going to turn in a friend or family member," Portaro said, referring to the Crime Stoppers' reward. "For $32,000, I think you will. I hope you will."

Portaro made his comments at a Summerlin park across from Faith Lutheran Junior/Senior High School in the west valley during a joint news conference with Las Vegas police.

Homicide Sgt. Jon Scott announced police have released two short video clips that appear to show the suspect who fatally shot Portaro. The videos don't show the shooting. Scott said "robbery of some type" is the motive in what police say is a random crime.

Portaro, a 2006 graduate of Faith Lutheran, was shot dead about 11:30 p.m. outside the Tenaya Creek Brewery, 3101 N. Tenaya Way, near Cheyenne Avenue.

Police said Portaro was in the bar's parking lot selling tickets to a show at Daddy Mac's restaurant in Henderson where his hip-hop group, Ekoh, was to perform.

Investigators initially said robbery was an unlikely motive in the slaying because Portaro was found with money on his person. They subsequently said Portaro's car was seen being driven from the bar parking lot and was later recovered.

The videos show from different angles what appears to be a man dressed in a hooded sweat shirt, jeans and white shoes.

In one angle, the person appears to walk in front of the brew pub's entrance. He then walks out of the camera's view. In the second video, the person walks past several planters while someone in the parking lot can be seen talking to a person on the passenger's side of a running car.

"We're hoping that someone will notice the characteristics of this individual, his clothing, the way he walks, the way he carries himself," Scott said. "Someone who probably hangs out with this individual on a regular basis is going to know this is a friend or a roommate or a family member."

Portaro's family members also announced they have begun a website, www.mikereward.com/donations, in which donations can be made to a PayPal account or to bank accounts toward reward funds.

Also at the news conference was Jeff Thompson, who raps in the group Ekoh, in which Portaro was a hype man, dancing and entertaining on stage.

Thompson said he hopes that reward will help capture the culprit who gunned down his friend and band mate.

Thompson, who has performed without Portaro since his slaying, said his absence is felt.

"It's tough," Thompson said. "It's not the same."

Anyone with information about the slaying is urged to call the police department's homicide section at 828-3521 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 385-5555.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@review journal.com or 702-383-4638.