Witness in LV case was victim of shooting spree

Kim Smith

Friday, May 5, 2000 | 11 a.m.

The Clark County district attorney's office learned Thursday that one of the key witnesses in a kidnapping trial set for May 15 died in a shooting rampage in Tennessee in March.

Shelby County (Tenn.) Sheriff's Deputy Rupert Peete Jr., 45, was one of the people killed when a firefighter allegedly ambushed emergency personnel responding to a blaze he had set.

Deputy District Attorney Gerald Gardner said he called Peete Thursday to see if he would be available to testify at the kidnapping trial of Teshale Lejebo Madebo. He discovered instead that Peete was one of the victims in the shooting.

According to Tennessee police, Frederick Williams, who had just returned to his firefighting job after a leave of absence, killed his wife and set his southeast Memphis home on fire.

When two firefighters responding to the blaze stepped out of their fire engine, Williams allegedly shot them. Then, when Peete, the first police officer on the scene, arrived, he was shot to death before he could even get out of his car.

Williams was eventually shot by police and is recovering from his wounds.

Peete, a retired Army major, was married and had three children, ages 3, 8, and 15.

Gardner said he intends to prove that Madebo kidnapped his late sister's 5-year-old son a few months ago and was on his way to Virginia and a flight to Africa when Peete pulled Madebo over for a traffic violation in Tennessee.

Peete discovered there was a warrant out for Madebo's arrest charging him with kidnapping the child, who was traveling in the vehicle with him, Gardner said.

Madebo was arrested by Peete and the child, whose legal father lives in Las Vegas, was temporarily placed in protective custody, Gardner said.

Gardner said that with Peete's death, he will have to prove his case with the help of such documents as Peete's report and other records.

Madebo appeared before District Judge Sally Loehrer Thursday. His request for bond was denied based on the allegation about the flight to Africa, which he strongly denied.

Gardner said Madebo believes he has more of a right to the child than does the boy's legal father, who is not his biological father.

Kim Smith covers courts for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-2321 or by e-mail at kimberly@lasvegassun.com