Standoff after killing ends in surrender

Thursday, Dec. 10, 1998 | 11:17 a.m.

Metro Police, responding to a call that shots had been fired at a residence in northwest Las Vegas Wednesday night, found the body of a man in a utility vehicle and a man inside a house with a shotgun.

After a stand-off that lasted almost three hours, James D. Perdue, 53, surrendered peacefully, according to Metro homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen.

Perdue was arrested and taken to the Clark County Detention Center on a charge of murder with a deadly weapon, said Petersen.

Petersen said the shooting victim, a 36-year-old man, was slumped over in the driver's seat of a Chevrolet Suburban. He had been shot through the rear window of the vehicle.

Neighbors reported seeing a man with a shotgun in the front of the home in the 3000 block of North Torrey Pines Drive at about 9:15 p.m.

By the time police arrived, the man had gone back into the residence.

Petersen said police set up a perimeter around the house and evacuated neighbors.

Officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, but he refused to talk or to answer his telephone.

SWAT Team negotiators were able to persuade the suspect to surrender at about 12:15 a.m. Thursday.

"He came out the front door without further incident," said Petersen.

A shotgun was found inside the residence.

Investigators have not determined a motive for the shooting, Petersen said, adding that the suspect and the victim apparently knew each other.

"Neighbors had seen the victim at the house numerous times, but we don't know what the relationship was," said Petersen.

The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of relatives.

Live chat: Tuesday, noon PST; Chat with Krista Creelman; Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question