Inquest set in shooting

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1999 | 10:44 a.m.

A coroner's inquest into the fatal shooting of jail escapee Timothy Blackburn, who was awaiting trial on federal bank robbery charges, has been set for Oct. 1 in District Court Department 5.

Blackburn, who escaped from the North Las Vegas Detention Center Aug. 11, died Sunday morning during a standoff with police and SWAT members at the Budget Suites motel, 4855 Boulder Hwy., where he had been staying with his wife and two daughters.

Officials said patrol officer Nevin Hansbarger, 40, accidentally discharged a shotgun outside the motel. SWAT members on the scene thought Blackburn was firing shots and stormed the apartment about 6 a.m., Sheriff Jerry Keller said. Blackburn was shooting his wife, Puthea Lee, as officers entered the room, police said. His two daughters, Tiana, 5, and Tiara, 4, were already dead in the bathroom, police said.

SWAT officers burst into the hotel room and shot at Blackburn, Keller said. At the same time Blackburn shot the fatal bullet into his own head, he said.

SWAT officers Gavin Vesp, 30, and Manuel Rivera, 32, fired shots that hit Blackburn, police said. A preliminary investigation found that officers fired 10 shots, five of which hit Blackburn, police said. The officers are on administrative leave until the inquest.

Hansbarger has been with the department one year, Vesp eight years and Rivera nine years.

Vesp was involved in another officer-involved shooting in 1997, which was determined justified.