Beauty shop gunman surrenders peacefully

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

The alleged gunman, identified as Gerald Burns, 33, of Las Vegas, walked out of the Hair Cuttery shop shortly after 7 p.m., said Phil Roland, a spokesman for the Las Vegas Metro Police Department.

The hostage, whose name was not released, was not harmed, he said.

Terrified workers and customers fled the shop when the man walked in, drew a gun and ordered everyone out except one woman.

The man fired several shots and one bullet went through a wall, striking a bartender in an adjoining business in the leg. The bartender, whose name was not released, was treated at an area hospital, Roland said.

"Before I hit the back door I heard three shots," said Mary Ann Stradley, a stylist in the shop. "She was trying to talk him out of it, saying "Don't do this, Billy."'

Stradley said the woman still in the shop was getting her nails done when the man came in the door carrying a gym bag. She said he took a gun out of the bag and ordered the approximately 30 customers and workers out of the store.

Another witness said the gunman said he was "going to teach her something."

Las Vegas police surrounded the shop and evacuated adjoining businesses following the incident, which occurred just before 4 p.m.

Streets in the area were blocked off, snarling rush hour traffic for blocks in every direction.

About 30 minutes after the shots were fired, paramedics came out of the shop with a person on a stretcher.