Fund-raiser nets $18,000 for Baby Jacqueline

Monday, March 9, 1998 | 9:58 a.m.

Local residents are showing that the fastest growing area in the country has a heart to match.

Hundreds of people filed into the Nightclub at the Las Vegas Hilton Saturday night to support baby Jacqueline, the infant who was shot in the face Feb. 25 while riding in a baby seat as her parents drove along East Sahara Avenue near 6th Street.

The fund-raiser, sponsored by the Hilton, ran from 8 p.m. until 4 a.m. Sunday. RCA recording artist Kristine W and singer Louie Louie performed for the crowd of supporters.

It was obvious that the people were not there just to party.

"The amount of donations that we've received so far shows that the people are here for the benefit," said Staci Columbo, vice president of slot marketing at the Hilton.

An estimated $18,000 was raised and every penny will go into the Wells Fargo account set up by Metro Police Sgt. Randy Sutton, said Maria Gladowski, the Hilton's public relations director.

In addition to revenues from the entrance fees and sale of food and drink, items from the performers' wardrobes were also auctioned off. Supporters paid $50 for a dress belonging to Kristine W. and $100 for a pair of Louie Louie's vinal pants.

"I've never seen anything like this," Sutton said about the community's support.

Sutton, who helped save the life of Jacqueline Martinez after responding to the shooting, was at the fund-raiser and thanked the Hilton staff for joining with the Las Vegas community in pulling together to help the family.

"I've received heartening phone calls from the community as well as all over the country from people who are shocked at what took place and want to know how they can help," Sutton said.

The shooting happened as the Martinez family was heading west on East Sahara. A car pulled up next to them and a gunman opened fire on their car. The baby was in her car seat in the back and was hit in the face with a bullet, tearing off part of her face. The parents in the front seat were not hurt. No arrests have yet been made in the case.

The baby is still in intensive care at University Medical Center but Sutton, who had just come from the hospital, said Saturday night that the baby was doing well.

Co-workers from the Treasure Island, where the baby's mother works as a buser, attended the fund-raiser to drop off an envelope of nearly $600 that was raised among the employees in one day.

"We're a family oriented hotel, which is why the employees came together to help out," said Deana Incico, cocktail services assistant manager at Treasure Island.

The fund-raiser also caught the attention of local entertainers in town who Gladowski said contributed a combined total of $6,000 before the event had even started.

Danny Ganz, Lance Burton and Louie Anderson were just some of the entertainers who donated money.

A woman working at the door said that some people were just coming in to drop a donation off, then left.