Officer shot in face by robbers returns to duty

Keith Paul

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2001 | 9:43 a.m.

Officer Pete Rossi had no doubt he'd be back. A bullet fired from a gun of a fleeing suspect struck the officer in the eye last summer, but there was no question in Rossi's mind he'd return to work.

"This is what I do. It's in my blood," Rossi said.

After Sheriff Jerry Keller handed Rossi the department's Purple Heart award, Rossi smiled briefly and walked to his seat. He shifted a little uncomfortably as more than 150 officers and their families applauded during an awards ceremony Tuesday in the Las Vegas City Council chambers.

"In my own mind I knew I would be back," he said after the ceremony.

But no one expected him to return to duty as quickly as he did. About five months after being shot in the face, Rossi was back to full duty as a detective in the firearms unit.

On June 14 about 11 p.m., Rossi was called to the Macayo Vegas restaurant on Charleston Boulevard near Arville Street for an unknown disturbance. Police later found three men had just robbed the restaurant. Rossi pulled onto Arville just as the three men ran across the street to a getaway car.

One pulled a gun and fired two shots, one of which struck Rossi in an eye, blinding that eye.

The three fled as officers descended on the area to help Rossi and start the search.

Three men and a woman were arrested and charged in the case.

Tamika Beavers, the getaway driver, has pleaded guilty to robbery and is awaiting a sentence of 12 to 30 years. Terrence Winn pleaded guilty to robbery and attempted murder and faces 20 to 50 years in prison when sentenced next month.

Darnell Graham Harris and Marcus Weatherspoon still face trials.

Rossi said he really doesn't think about that night much.

"It just something that happened," he said.