Girl in shooting to face several charges

Keith Paul

Wednesday, July 12, 2000 | 11:33 a.m.

A 13-year-old girl, who was wounded when four Metro Police officers shot and killed a 19-year-old robbery suspect, will be charged with robbery and other crimes when she is released from the hospital.

Officers fired several times at the 19-year-old's car at the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Swenson Street about 11:15 p.m. Monday after witnesses and police said he tried to run over an officer.

The girl, who was a passenger in the car, was listed this morning in fair condition at University Medical Center. She will be charged as a juvenile with robbery and other crimes related to the robbery of the Rum Runner Lounge, 1801 E. Tropicana Ave., Capt. Greg Jolley said this morning.

Police found a sawed-off rifle in the car near the 19-year-old, and the girl, a runaway, had a revolver on her, police said. Both are from Bakersfield, Calif.

The 19-year-old, whose name has not been released by the Clark County coroner, went into the bar wearing a ski mask and tried to rob at gunpoint the bartender, who dived for the floor. Getting no money from the bartender, the gunman then robbed seven patrons of the bar, police said.

Several gang-unit officers were nearby and responded to the robbery call. They saw the 19-year-old fleeing in a gray Nissan.

The officers are on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an investigation.

About four minutes after the robbery, the Nissan came to a stop in the far right westbound lane of Tropicana. Police converged on the traffic-congested intersection from all directions, witnesses said.

"He was apparently willing to escape at all costs including running over the officer," Jolley said.

Officers reportedly ordered the man to stop, but when the car continued toward the officer, police fired, Jolley said.

The car was behind a large Cadillac and tried to move into another lane to escape police, but there wasn't enough room, Jolley said.

The Nissan hit the back of the Cadillac as the getaway car tried to move into the adjacent lane, putting the officer in its path, Jolley said.