News briefs for April 29, 2003

Tuesday, April 29, 2003 | 9:32 a.m.

Fugitive arrested in California killings

The Criminal Apprehension Team on Monday arrested an alleged gang member wanted for shooting seven people and killing two in Cathedral City, Calif., in 1997.

Leo Esterio Ramos, 22, was taken into custody about 1 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 7100 block of Smoke Ranch Road, Sgt. Ted Lee said.

In September 1997, Ramos allegedly got into a fight with rival gang members and shot seven people, killing two and wounding five. One of the victims is paralyzed, Lee said.

Ramos, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, fled to Mexicali, Mexico, and lived in Colorado before moving in with relatives in Las Vegas about a month ago. He was booked into the Clark County Detention Center and is awaiting extradition to California.

The Criminal Apprehension Team is comprised of investigators from the Metro and Henderson police departments and the FBI.

Boy, 9, on bike struck by truck

Metro Police are investigating a traffic accident Monday afternoon that left a 9-year-old bicyclist in critical condition.

About 3:30 p.m. Dagmar Diaz of Las Vegas was riding his bicycle south on a sidewalk south of Spencer Street near Katie Avenue, police said.

Diaz rode his bicycle into a northbound travel lane on Spencer and was hit by a 1998 Ford Ranger pickup truck driven by Leslie Fender, 26.

Diaz was taken to University Medical Center. A hospital spokesman said Diaz remained in critical condition late Monday.

Fender and her 9-month-old son, Race, were not injured.