Two wounded in shooting that ends in fiery auto crash

Monday, Aug. 18, 2003 | 9:46 a.m.

One man was in critical condition and another was in serious condition at University Medical Center after a shooting that ended with a fiery crash at Cheyenne Avenue and Lamb Boulevard Sunday night, Metro Police said.

Metro's gang unit was investigating the shooting that began about 9:51 p.m. in a nearby apartment complex, the Joshua Villa Apartments, 3985 Cheyenne Ave., Metro Sgt. Jay Roberts said.

"We heard, boom, boom, boom, and residents scattered everywhere," apartment resident Frank Young said.

A 1980s Cadillac pursued by another car sped eastward along Cheyenne Avenue, Roberts said.

Witnesses described the car chasing the Cadillac only as a dark vehicle and there were no descriptions of the suspects, Roberts said.

The Cadillac careened across Cheyenne going 30 to 40 mph, ending up in the Nevada Beverage Co. parking lot where it burst into flames, he said.

About 10 to 15 shots had been fired into the driver's side of the Cadillac, Roberts said.

All four men in the Cadillac escaped the burning vehicle, but the driver was critically injured with gunshot wounds and the front seat passenger had also been hit by bullets. Both are expected to survive, Roberts said.

Cheyenne Avenue was blocked off by police for several hours while investigators searched the desert and parking lot for evidence.

It was the second shooting in the neighborhood since Friday morning. About 3:45 a.m. Friday shots rang out at the Cheyenne Points apartment complex, 3240 Las Vegas Blvd. North, and two young men were injured in that case.

Police had not said this morning whether the two cases are related.