Local news briefs for November 9, 2000

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2000 | 11:13 a.m.

Suspect found in shooting death

A 49-year-old Las Vegas man was arrested in Sparks in connection with the killing of a California man whose badly decomposed remains were found last month.

Thomas R. Brand Sr. was booked into the Clark County Dentention Center on murder charges in connection with the shooting death of 38-year-old Gary U. Tarter, whose body was found Oct. 14 in an area off of Gomer and Industrial roads, Lt. Wayne Petersen of Metro Police's homicide unit said.

Detectives tracked Brand down in Sparks, interviewed him Wednesday, and then arrested him and brought him back to Las Vegas, Petersen said.

Tarter apparently came to Las Vegas about two months before he was found dead. A mutual friend introduced him to Brand, Petersen said.

Brand, a six-time convicted felon dating back to 1972, is accused of shooting Tarter for no apparent reason while the two were drinking in a home off Blue Diamond Road.

Man found shot in mobile home

A 25-year-old man shot to death in a mobile home park in the 4000 block of Las Vegas Boulevard North was identified as Reggie Ezill of North Las Vegas.

Witnesses told police a man known as Jamar shot Ezill several times Tuesday about 11 p.m. before fleeing the area. Ezill was found dead outside one of the mobile homes and apparently had arrived just before the shooting started, Metro Police said.

Neither the suspect nor Ezill lived in the home. The resident was in the Clark County jail on drug charges at the time.

Detectives are trying to identify and locate Jamar. He was described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing about 110 pounds and wearing a black beanie cap and dark clothing.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Metro's homicide unit at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Crossing guard to be honored

Henderson Police will hold a candlelight memorial service and a tree dedication ceremony Nov. 22 for a crossing guard who suffered fatal injuries when she was struck by a car in the line of duty in November 1999.

Shirley Rizzo worked as a crossing guard in Henderson for seven years and would often ride her bike the three blocks between her house and the corner of Wigwam Parkway and Valley Verde Drive.

Rizzo was reportedly standing in the crosswalk on Valle Verde when hit by a car.

Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson and police Chief Michael Mayberry will attend the 5 p.m. ceremony at Mountain View Park, 1959 Wigwam Parkway.