Metro Police: Cashier shot dead by estranged husband at west valley store

A cashier working in a west valley convenience store was shot and killed Saturday night by her estranged husband who then turned the gun on himself, according to Metro Police.

The man, who shot himself in the head, was rushed to University Medical Center in critical condition, said Metro Lt. Dan McGrath. He called the shooting “very disturbing” and “a very unfortunate domestic violence incident.”

“Domestic violence is something that as difficult as it is, it needs to be discussed and we need to bring it up and talk about it…there are always other options,” he said.

The man, who is in his late 50s, walked into Herbst Market on Desert Inn and Fort Apache roads, went around the counter and shot the woman multiple times, McGrath said. Video surveillance shows that there apparently was no confrontation before gunfire erupted, he added.

The man then sat down and shot himself, McGrath said.

Some of the eight people inside the store, who were either gambling or shopping, heard the gunshots, but did not see the shooting, McGrath said. A couple may have seen the gun.

Officers are confident no one else was injured, McGrath said. The woman, who was in her 40s, has at least one child, a young man. It wasn’t immediately clear if he is related to the shooter.

Police learned that the couple was estranged, and that they’d broken up about three months ago, McGrath said. The woman has worked at the convenience store for over a year, and employees and her family knew about issues with the marriage.

“I hate to see somebody at work doing their job and get shot,” McGrath said about domestic violence. “It’s sad.”