A Panamanian businessman says a suspect in a fatal bombing at a Las Vegas casino has stolen his identity, and police admit they don’t know the real name of the man they have in custody.
Omar Rueda-Denvers, of Panama City, told the Las Vegas Sun he was surprised to read his name in a newspaper story identifying a man charged with murder in the May 7 bombing outside the Luxor hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
Rueda-Denvers, 42, said he recognized the man in the newspaper photos as a former employee, a Guatemalan immigrant.
Police acknowledged Friday they released the wrong name, but said they believe they have the right man in jail.
“It’s the right person. However, we don’t know his identity,” said officer Jose Montoya, a police spokesman. Investigators were heading to Panama to try to sort out the identities, he said.
The man police had earlier identified as Omar Rueda-Denvers pleaded guilty last week to having false identification.
Police believe he hatched a bombing plot to kill Willebaldo Dorantes Antonio, who was dating the suspect’s ex-girlfriend. Dorantes Antonio died after picking up an explosive device that had been left on his car.
Also arrested was a 27-year-old Nicaraguan construction worker, Porfirio Duarte-Herrera, whom police described as an associate in the attack.
The men could face life in prison if convicted of murder. Their arraignments have been postponed while officials determine whether Clark County public defenders have a conflict of interest.
