In the early morning hours of March 29, 2019, a dispute over a few cases of beer at a Las Vegas convenience store tragically escalated, ending the life of 56-year-old Robert Lee Cook, a Black / African American male. The incident unfolded shortly before 6:15 a.m. at the Stateside Express located at 950 Las Vegas Boulevard North. Cook, accompanied by a woman, attempted to leave the store without paying for at least three cases of beer.
As Cook and the woman tried to get into a waiting
vehicle, they were followed outside by the store manager and a clerk, 26-year-old Suse Antunez-Garcia. A brief struggle ensued between the manager and Cook. As Cook broke free and was getting into the car, Antunez-Garcia allegedly fired two shots into the vehicle, striking him in his lower abdomen and leg area.
The vehicle sped away from the convenience store and, about 15 minutes later, arrived at University Medical Center. Despite medical efforts, Robert Lee Cook was pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds at 6:56 a.m. His death was officially ruled a homicide by the Clark County coroner's office.
Following the shooting, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department homicide detectives launched an investigation. Later that same day, Suse Antunez-Garcia was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting.
