Court briefs for May 31, 2001

Thursday, May 31, 2001 | 10:58 a.m.

Woman sentenced in restaurant robbery

A Las Vegas woman was sentenced to four to 10 years in prison Wednesday for her part in a restaurant robbery that resulted in a Metro Police officer losing the sight in one of his eyes.

Tamika Beavers pleaded guilty to robbery with use of a deadly weapon in connection with the June 14 robbery of the Macayo Vegas Mexican restaurant and was sentenced Wednesday by District Judge Nancy Saitta.

Police allege that Markus Weatherspoon, Darnell Harris and Terrance Winn walked into the restaurant shortly after it closed at 11 p.m. The masked men robbed it, but when they left they encountered Officer Peter Rossi, who was pulling up to the restaurant.

Harris fired two shots, police allege. One hit Rossi's bumper and went into his tire. The second bullet struck his windshield, which fragmented.

The fragments hit Rossi in the shoulder, chin and eyes and he lost the sight in his left eye.

Beavers was supposed to be the getaway driver, but after the shooting she jumped out of the moving vehicle, leaving the three men to fend for themselves.

Beavers, who was Weatherspoon's girlfriend, was eventually arrested after she learned police were looking for her, and she returned from California and gave police a statement.

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 to 20 to 50 years.

Weatherspoon was convicted earlier this month and faces multiple life sentences when he is sentenced June 28.

Harris is scheduled to go on trial next year.

Beavers, who has no criminal history, testified at Weatherspoon's trial and is expected to testify at Harris' trial, as well.

"Her only mistake was who she picked as a boyfriend and to hang around with," defense attorney Lew Wolfbrandt told Saitta Wednesday.

Rossi recovered from his injuries and is back on duty.

Wrongful death suit filed against club

The family of a man who committed suicide in March 2000 has filed a wrongful death suit against the club where he killed himself.

According to the lawsuit, filed Wednesday in District Court, American Shooters Supply knew three other people had committed suicide at their establishment and yet "took no precautions" to prevent it from happening again.

The lawsuit states that Thomas J. Murphy walked into the club on March 31, 2000, rented a Sturm Ruger .38 special, was supplied ammunition and shot himself in the head.

The lawsuit states that the club's employees did nothing despite the fact that "Mr. Murphy was agitated and nervous, so much so that he could not even hang his target that was also provided by the defendant."

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Murphy's wife, Virginia, and his children, John T. Murphy and Erin F. Murphy.

The three are seeking unspecified damages.