Filipino in fatal Vegas bus shooting says he was just trying to scare a man
Shooting suspect Rolando Bueno Cardenas. LVMP
SAN FRANCISCO — Rolando Bueno Cardenas, the 55-year-old Filipino, who was charged with killing one man and wounding another on a double-decker Las Vegas Strip commuter bus, told police on Tuesday, March 28, that he fired a gun because he felt threatened by a large male passenger who sat near him and was just trying to scare the latter with gunfire.
Cardenas told detectives in a recorded interview following his surrender Saturday, March 25 that he was unemployed and recently became homeless. He said he thought he heard the large man, who was with two women, say he would attack him before he pulled a gun and fired twice.
Police say security video on the bus didn’t show any provocation for the shooting and the man Cardenas described wasn’t injured.
Cardenas remained jailed without bail at the Clark County jail in Las Vegas on murder, attempted murder, battery and firearm charges ahead of a court appearance today, March29. A judge is expected to appoint a lawyer to represent him. Attempts to reach relatives have been unsuccessful.
Gary Brietling, 57, of Sidney, Montana, was killed with shot to the chest.
Jason Ellis, 39, of Las Vegas, who was behind Brietling, was wounded in the torso. He was treated for his wound and released.
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