Las Vegas man allegedly killed ex-girlfriend’s father during fight over dog

LAS VEGAS (TCD) — Police recently arrested a 51-year-old man on suspicion of killing his ex-girlfriend’s 69-year-old father during a dispute over a dog last year.

According to a news release from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, on June 11, 2023, shortly after 5 p.m., officers responded to the 3900 block of Maryland Avenue, where they found Larry Vargas outside the home unresponsive. He was transported to Sunrise Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police allege Vargas got into a physical fight with Roman Ramirez over a pet. According to an arrest report reviewed by KSNV-TV, Ramirez initially went to the home to pick up a dog he shared custody of with his ex-girlfriend when he allegedly pushed Vargas multiple times. Vargas reportedly fell to the ground and into a palm tree. He sustained multiple abrasions as a result.

Police located and arrested Ramirez later that day, according to police. During an interview, Ramirez reportedly said Vargas had punched him, so he pushed the victim.

When police told Ramirez that Vargas had died and showed video evidence that conflicted with his statement, the man said, “Then book me for murder and take me to County [Detention Center],” KSNV reports.

Police were awaiting results from the Clark County Coroner’s investigation and booked Ramirez into the Clark County Detention Center for battery resulting in substantial bodily harm on an elderly person.

According to officers, on Feb. 8, the Clark County Coroner’s Office ruled Vargas’ death a homicide. Vargas reportedly died due to cardiac arrhythmia in the setting of the dispute, KSNV reports.

On Feb. 22, police found Ramirez, who was out on bail, and rebooked him into the Clark County Detention Center on a new charge of open murder. He remains held without bail.

MORE: