Family, police plead for witnesses in 2014 murder to come forward
On the two-year anniversary of her son’s death, Jacqueline Elder pleaded with the community for help.
Holding tightly to her son’s cremated ashes, Elder on Thursday asked witnesses to come forward with answers concerning the July 28, 2014, shooting that left her son, Morland Richey-Elder, dead.
“It’s affecting our family tremendously,” she said. “We can’t start the healing process until someone comes forward. We just need justice. He was so loved.”
Two years ago, officers responded to Barium Rock Avenue, near El Capitan Way and Iron Mountain Road, just after 12:30 a.m. and found 20-year-old Morland Richey-Elder unresponsive with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators say the shooting happened during a house party with about 70 people.
“I know there’s somebody out there,” Elder said. “We know who did it. We just need witnesses — somebody to come forward. We don’t want these guys to hurt anybody else. I don’t want anybody else to feel how I’m feeling.”
Richey-Elder was shot near the driveway and ran through the party to get away from the shooter, police said. He got to the backyard before collapsing.
Elder said her son never got the chance to meet his nephew and niece, who were born shortly after he died.
“We’re losing too many young people,” Metro Lt. Dan McGrath said. “We will solve this case. We just need some of the people who were there to come forward. If they don’t contact us, we will contact them.”
McGrath said that they have questioned some persons of interest but that “they don’t have to answer.” He said that these persons of interest have been involved in other crimes since the shooting and it should give the community some concern.
Elder said it gives her an “unsafe feeling” knowing the crime has gone unsolved. She thinks people are scared to come forward.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the Metropolitan Police Department homicide section at 702-828-3521, or email at homicide@lvmpd.com.
Contact Natalie Bruzda at nbruzda@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3897. Find @NatalieBruzda on Twitter.
