Suspects in officer shooting held on $1 million bond

Sunday, July 30, 2000 | 10:02 a.m.

Two men charged in a June shooting that claimed the eye of a Las Vegas police officer have been ordered held on $1 million bond following the unsealing of an indictment in their case.

A judge Friday set an arraignment for Darnell G. Harris and Marcus Weatherspoon for Thursday.

Prosecutors contend they participated in a June 14 armed robbery at the Macayo Vegas restaurant.

Authorities believe three people entered the mostly empty restaurant shortly before 11 p.m., struck one employee with a firearm and then robbed the business.

As they left the rear of the restaurant, they encountered patrol officer Peter Rossi, 26, who was driving up to the back entrance in response to a 911 call.

The men ran across the street, then one turned and fired at least two shots at Rossi, police said. Authorities believe Harris was the person who fired on the officer.

Police said the gunmen fled the parking lot in a stolen brown Chevrolet Blazer. After abandoning the Blazer, the gunmen took another vehicle from a woman who later was left near an intersection.

Police say at least one other person participated in the restaurant robbery. They said it is also possible that a fourth person may have waited in the getaway car.