Las Vegas police want help to solve hit-and-run that killed woman, 81

The Metropolitan Police Department is urging anyone with knowledge of a hit-and-run crash that killed an 81-year-old woman in the western Las Vegas Valley last month to come forward with information that might help solve the open case.

At a news conference Wednesday near the scene of the crash, Lt. Cody Fulwiler said the agency had exhausted all investigative leads after 26 days of searching for the person who fatally struck Margaret Brown while she was crossing Grand Canyon Drive at Desert Inn Road around 10 p.m. on June 13.

“This is where Margaret Brown — or as her family knew her, Peggy — tragically lost her life as she was struck by a vehicle while walking in a crosswalk,” Fulwiler said while surrounded by Brown’s relatives and other loved ones. “Today, we turn to our community seeking any information that could lead us to the person responsible for Peggy’s death.”

Brown was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk with a walk signal when a 2016-19 Nissan Sentra heading west on Desert Inn turned left into the intersection, striking Brown and knocking her to the ground, Fulwiler said. The Nissan continued south and fled the area, Fulwiler said.

Police had said previously they believe the suspect vehicle is missing its lower center grill and was last seen eastbound on Pioneer Avenue from Grand Canyon after the crash. Fulwiler on Wednesday said the matter remains under investigation, and little is known other than the make of the suspect vehicle.

Fulwiler added that investigators are continuing to review surveillance video from surrounding businesses and residences. But he emphasized that Brown did nothing incorrect as a pedestrian when she was struck.

“Peggy did everything right that night,” Fulwiler said. “But somehow lost her life at the hands of a driver who cowardly fled the scene.”

‘We wanted her close’

Joe Brown, Brown’s brother and a Las Vegas resident of 57 years, said his sister had just moved to the valley from Florida in January and would frequently take walks in the area where she was hit. She had no children and was never married, Joe Brown said, but his sister had many friends in Florida and a vibrant social life here since relocating.

“We wanted her close where we could watch out for her, prevent anything like this happening,” Brown said Wednesday. “It’s very, very sad. Peggy was as sweet as anyone that ever lived. She loved people.”

Peggy would often get dinner with her brother’s side of the family, her brother recalled, and was especially affectionate of Joe Brown’s pet labradoodle.

“Peg loved that dog,” Brown said. “The dog was sick a couple months ago, and Peg was scared, worried to death about my dog. She would call my house every day (asking), ‘How’s Bear?’”

Message to driver: ‘Eventually, they will find you’

Greg Yankovsky, a longtime friend of the Brown family, told reporters Peggy’s death has caused “great pain” to her loved ones and urged the driver to surrender.

“The longer this case is open, the worse it is going to get for you and your family,” Yankovsky said. “Eventually, they will find you.”

Above anything, Joe Brown said he hoped Wednesday’s news conference would remind the public to be vigilant in helping identify the suspect.

“I just think that there’s people that have to know that their neighbor or their friend or someone that they work with has a Nissan Sentra with the grill missing,” he said. “And they will have on their conscience, knowing that the driver of that car, killed a woman and left her for dead.”

Margaret Brown’s death marked the 78th traffic-related fatality reported in Metro’s jurisdiction for 2025. Anyone with information may contact Metro’s collision investigation section at 702-828-3595. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.

“We were so happy to have her in our life,” Joe Brown said. “And suddenly, she’s gone.”

Contact Casey Harrison at charrison@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Casey_Harrison1 on X. or @casey-harrison.bsky.social on Bluesky.