Local news briefs for January 10, 2000

Monday, Jan. 10, 2000 | 11:25 a.m.

Man found dead in Vons parking lot

Metro Police homicide detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a 40-year-old man who was driving his car in West Las Vegas Saturday night.

Steven G. Wilson was found inside a white Ford Explorer in a Vons supermarket parking lot at the southwest corner of H Street and Owens Avenue just after 8:30 p.m., police said.

Witnesses heard shots near the intersection, but investigators have not determined exactly where the shooting took place. Wilson was seen driving west on Owens after the shots were heard. The Explorer then ran a red light, went over a curb and through a desert area before stopping in the lot at the Vons, 1601 W. Owens Ave., police said.

Two bullet holes were found in the Explorer, and Wilson had gunshot wounds in the torso and leg, police said. Wilson was taken to University Medical Center, but died from his injuries shortly after arriving.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call homicide detectives at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Thrifty offers a hefty reward

Thrifty Rent-A-Car is offering a $25,000 reward for information on those responsible for stealing 12 of the business' vehicles on Jan. 2.

Four Plymouth minivans, three Dodge Intrepids, two Dodge Caravans, two Plymouth Breezes and one Dodge Neon are missing from the lot, Metro Police said.

All of the cars were stolen from the overflow parking lot at the business, 376 E. Warm Springs Road.

The reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Chris Leveque at 229-3586 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Mr. D's raises funds for officers, patrons

A local sports bar has raised more than $12,000 for six people injured in a Dec. 5 robbery attempt that erupted into a gun battle between an off-duty Metro officer and three intruders.

Mr. D's sports bar, 1810 S. Rainbow Blvd., was the site of the shooting and Saturday's fund-raiser, which featured donations from the Orleans and Palace Station hotel-casinos as well as other local businesses.

The money will go to help pay the medical bills of Metro Police Officer Dennis Devitte and the five other victims who suffered injuries during the failed robbery attempt.

A Clark County coroner's inquest scheduled for Thursday will determine if Devitte was justified in the shooting.

Man killed; jaywalking believed to be cause

An elderly Las Vegas man was fatally injured Saturday night as he tried to cross Maryland Parkway outside a crosswalk and was hit by a van.

Francesco Sinatra, 79, started to cross Maryland Parkway in mid-block, 237 feet north of Sierra Vista Drive, at 11 p.m., Metro Police said.

Lucille Santos, 53, of Juneau, Alaska, was driving north on Maryland Parkway when Sinatra is believed to have stepped into the path of the 1998 Plymouth van she was driving, police said.

Sinatra was taken to University Medical Center, where he died from his injuries early Sunday morning.

The accident is still under investigation, but police say jaywalking appears to be the cause of the accident.

Suspect in shooting arrested in California

A 24-year-old man sought in connection with a fatal bar shooting last month was arrested last week in California on unrelated charges.

Metro Police homicide detectives went to Orange County to interview Jesus Ramon Gutierrez in connection with the Dec. 28 shooting death of Jose Luciano Gonzales Jr. The shooting occurred at the Strike Zone bar on East Flamingo Road after an argument escalated to a fight.

Detectives are working with the Clark County District Attorney's Office to determine what charges should be filed in the case, said Lt. Wayne Petersen of Metro's homicide unit.

Police have been searching for Gutierrez since Gonzales and another man were shot during the fight.

Driver indicted in fatal accident

A man whose blood-alcohol level was 0.35 percent when his truck collided with a motorcyclist on Sept. 26, has been indicted by a Clark County grand jury on felony drunken driving and involuntary manslaughter charges.

Mitchell Allen Blasche's blood-alcohol level after the incident on West Sahara Avenue was 3 1/2 times the minimum limit to prove drunken driving under Nevada law.

Jarrod Straub was riding a 1999 Ducati motorcycle when Blasche's truck turned in front of it about 1:45 a.m., according to Deputy District Attorney Gary booker. The rider died in the collision.

Chief District Judge Lee Gates on Friday ordered Blasche to be arraigned Jan. 13 on the charges.

Bail is set at $120,000.