News briefs for August 26, 2002

Monday, Aug. 26, 2002 | 9:44 a.m.

Dog killed as fire hits 2 homes

Las Vegas fire investigators have ruled that a two-alarm fire that killed a dog and heavily damaged two homes at an estimated loss of $155,000 in the northwest Las Vegas Valley was an accident.

Firefighters arrived at 405 Antelope Way about 6 p.m. Sunday and found flames coming from two homes.

When firefighters first arrived, they found flames as high as 40 feet coming from the garage of one home.

One woman was treated and released at the scene for smoke inhalation.

The first home has an estimated $85,000 in damage, including a boat and a vehicle.

The flames that spread to the neighboring home on the north side did an estimated $70,000 in damage, fire officials said.

None of the emergency crews responding to the fire suffered injuries, but firefighters tried in vain to save the life of a cocker spaniel.

The American Red Cross is assisting residents of both houses.

Driver dies in airport lot crash

Metro Police are investigating the death of a motorist with a possible medical problem after his car collided with a street light in the McCarran International Airport overflow parking lot on Saturday.

Robert Alpert, 62, of Las Vegas was driving westbound on Russell when he failed to follow a left-hand curve, police said. His car drove onto the sidewalk, through landscaping and a chain-link fence leading into the parking lot.

Alpert was taken to Desert Springs Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The Clark County coroner's office will determine the cause of death.

Gun possession draws five years

A reputed Las Vegas gang member was sentenced on Friday to five years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Jajuane Hankins, 24, of Las Vegas was convicted by a jury in May for possessing a loaded semiautomatic pistol. Hankins has a 1996 felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell.

Authorities say he is a member of a Las Vegas gang.

In addition to the prison sentence Hankins was ordered to serve a three-year period of supervised release and to pay a fine of $1,000 and a special assessment of $100.

Man dies after woman wounded

A Las Vegas man is dead and a woman was in critical condition Sunday at University Medical Center after a shooting in the 3200 block of East Flamingo Road about 8 p.m. Friday, Metro Police said.

Richard Darnold, 67, and a woman, 42, were arguing inside an apartment, when the woman ran outside and borrowed a neighbor's cordless phone to dial 911, officers said.

Darnold stepped outside the apartment, saw the woman on the phone and shot her, police said.

The woman was taken to UMC's Trauma Center. Police said Darnold died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Pedestrians and motorists

are advised to use extra caution on Las Vegas Boulevard tonight as sidewalk repairs will close the pedestrian sidewalk and right traffic lane between Treasure Island Way and Spring Mountain Road and between Riviera Boulevard and Sahara Avenue. The lanes will close at 9 tonight and will reopen at 6 a.m. Tuesday.