Trial to begin in case of armed robbery suspect

Kim Smith

Monday, May 7, 2001 | 9:53 a.m.

Jury selection was expected to begin this afternoon in the trial of a man arrested in connection with a restaurant robbery that left a Metro Police officer partially blinded.

Markus Weatherspoon, 23, is accused of being the mastermind behind the June 14 robbery at the Macayo Vegas restaurant near West Charleston Boulevard and Arville Street.

According to police, three men ran into the restaurant and robbed employees at gunpoint. When they came out moments later, police say they encountered Officer Pete Rossi, 26, and one of the robbers opened fire.

One of the bullets struck Rossi in the eye. Rossi recovered from his injury and has returned to his duties with Metro.

After ditching their getaway vehicle, police said, the robbers forced a woman walking out of a nearby restaurant into her Chevrolet Blazer and drove away. She was later released near Rancho Drive and Bonanza Road.

Weatherspoon and the man charged with the actual shooting, Darnell Harris, face 14 counts each, including robbery, kidnapping and battery on a police officer.

A third man, Terrance Winn, pleaded guilty to robbery with use of a deadly weapon and attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon last month. He was sentenced in March to 20 to 50 years.

The woman who drove the men to the restaurant, Tamika Beavers, also took a deal. She pleaded guilty to robbery with use of a deadly weapon and faces a 12- to 30-year prison sentence. She will be sentenced after testifying against Weatherspoon and Harris, who will go on trial next month.