Gunman invades beauty shop, at least one person shot

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

At least one person was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound after the gunman fired several shots. Police said the victim was a cook in a bar that adjoins the shop and was hit by a bullet that went through the wall.

Police SWAT units surrounded the Hair Cuttery shop into the early evening hours, trying to negotiate with the gunman. The fate of the woman in the shop was not immediately known.

"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.