DNA called crucial in cop-shooting case

Keith Paul

Tuesday, June 20, 2000 | 11:59 a.m.

Prosecutors this morning filed a motion seeking to obtain a DNA sample from a suspect in last week's shooting of a Metro Police officer.

Justice of the Peace William Jansen gave Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Wall until June 27 to file the formal complaint against 22-year-old Markus Weatherspoon. At that time the motion seeking a DNA sample will also be heard.

Police are still searching for two more men accused of robbing the Macayo Vegas restaurant, 4457 W. Charleston Blvd., just before 11 p.m. Wednesday. As the trio fled the scene, one of the robbers fired shots at Officer Pete Rossi. One bullet hit Rossi, 26, in the chin and traveled up his face into his eye, blinding him in that eye.

Rossi, a three-year Metro veteran, was released from University Medical Center Monday afternoon.

Weatherspoon was held this morning without bond in the Clark County jail.

Lt. Wayne Petersen said detectives collected physical evidence from the robbery and the getaway car that could be compared to a DNA sample, but be declined to specify what evidence.

"We've got a lot to work with," Petersen said. "We're working on information to identify the other suspects. All the physical evidence will assist in making that connection between the other suspects and the crime."

Weatherspoon, described by Sheriff Jerry Keller last week as having "a very violent past," has previous arrests for domestic battery and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime. He is wanted in North Las Vegas and Los Angeles on drug-related charges.

Weatherspoon has ties to the Las Vegas Valley and also in Los Angeles, but Petersen said police believe the other suspects in the crime are locals.

Weatherspoon's half-brother is also accused of a violent crime and was arrested Saturday as he went into the county jail with their mother to visit Weatherspoon.

Tyree Knight, 17, was booked into the jail on murder charges in connection with the June 3 slaying of 25-year-old Travion Hampton in a second-floor walkway at the Harbor Island apartments at 370 E. Harmon Ave., Petersen said.

Detectives have no reason to believe at this point that Knight was involved in the restaurant robbery or the shooting of Rossi, Petersen said.

Detectives had been trying to find Knight for about a week before his brother was arrested in Rossi's shooting. Saturday, detectives received a call saying Weatherspoon had two visitors -- his mother and half-brother Knight.

Less than 17 hours after Rossi was shot, Weatherspoon was arrested at a duplex at 1297 N. N St. Thursday.

Detectives continue to investigate if there is any connection between Weatherspoon and a former female employee of the Macayo Vegas, Petersen said.

The second suspect still being sought is described as a black male who is 18 to 20 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall and about 135 pounds. He had his hair in two short pigtails about an inch long and tied with yellow rubber bands. He was wearing a loose-fitting black T-shirt and tan or gray pants with red underwear showing over the top of the pants.

The third suspect was only described as a black male who was wearing a dark cap and a rubber mask of a "Star Wars" character.