Epri Cain

Do you know what happened to Epri Cain?
Epri Nataye Cain, a 32-year-old African-American woman, was a friendly and well-liked resident of her Las Vegas apartment complex. Neighbors remembered her as a "real nice lady" with whom they would often chat in passing. Her life was violently cut short in an attack that shattered the peace of her community and left her loved ones devastated on what should have been a day of celebration.

The tragic event unfolded in the pre-dawn hours of Mother's Day, May 10, 2015. At approximately 3:44 a.m., Epri was inside her apartment in the 4800 block of Cleopatra Avenue, watching television with a family member. The apartment was located within the Liberty Village Apartments, a complex not far from Nellis Air Force Base in the northeast part of the valley. Suddenly, a loud knock or banging was heard at the front door. Epri went to answer it, opening the main door but keeping the metal security screen door shut as a precaution.

Without warning, a gunman on the other side immediately opened fire, shooting multiple rounds through the security door. The bullets struck Epri, inflicting fatal wounds. The force of the gunshots was so loud that it jolted neighbors from their sleep. One neighbor, Nancy Allen, recalled jumping out of bed, thinking she was under attack. The bullet holes left in the metal door served as a grim testament to the violence of the ambush. After the shooting, the gunman fled the scene.

Police and medical personnel were dispatched to the apartment after the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) received a 911 call reporting gunshots. First responders found Epri suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was rushed to University Medical Center's Trauma Center, but her injuries were too severe, and she was pronounced deceased. The Clark County Coroner's Office later confirmed her cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and her manner of death a homicide.

Homicide detectives from the LVMPD immediately began an investigation, canvassing the area for witnesses. They determined that the shooter did not act alone. Witnesses reported seeing an unknown Black male with short hair, wearing a white T-shirt and tan shorts, leaving the area directly after the shots were fired. Police believe this man fled to a waiting vehicle, described as a light-colored, four-door sedan with tinted windows, which was driven by a second, unidentified person. The motive for the shooting remains unknown to the public.

The brutal and seemingly random nature of the killing deeply unsettled the residents of the Liberty Village Apartments. Neighbors expressed fear for their safety and for the many children who played in the complex. Nancy Allen, who spoke fondly of her daily interactions with Epri, conveyed the community's heartbreak, particularly noting the tragic timing of the murder. "Bad part about it -- it was Mother's Day -- so my heart goes out to her," she said.

Years have passed since Epri Cain's murder, and her case remains unsolved. The investigation is still open and is handled by the LVMPD Homicide Section under case number 150510-0867. As of May 2015, no arrests have been made, and the two individuals responsible for her death have not been publicly identified. Authorities have not released any new information regarding potential suspects or a motive.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department urges anyone with information about the murder of Epri Cain to come forward. Individuals can contact the LVMPD Homicide Section directly at 702-828-3521 or by email at [email protected]. To remain anonymous, tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 702-385-5555 or online at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.