News briefs for August 28, 2003

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003 | 11:34 a.m.

Teen sought in shooting of father

North Las Vegas Police are searching for a 16-year-old boy in connection with the shooting of his father this morning.

Officer Justin Roberts, spokesman for the department, said Morrison George, a Cheyenne High School student, got into an argument with his 40-year-old father at their home in the 3400 block of West Colton Avenue and then shot his father.

The father, whose name was not released by police this morning, was being treated for life-threatening injuries at University Medical Center, Roberts said.

Police received several calls shortly before 7 a.m. reporting gunshots. When officers arrived, they found the victim with gunshot wounds on the front yard of the house.

"The son pulls out a gun, shoots his dad and takes off," Roberts said. George fled in a 1989 white Jeep Grand Cherokee with Nevada plates 487NZX.

George may still have the small-caliber handgun allegedly used in the shooting.

Anyone with information on George's whereabouts can call police at 633-9111.

County fire gets $454,582 grant

The Clark County Fire Department was expected to receive a $454,582 grant today as part of the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The grant money will be used to provide specialized equipment and training for paid and volunteer firefighters and paramedics.

Emergency personnel will gain specialized training in avoiding fire flashovers, emergency driving skills and upgraded air packs in 13 rural communities.

Las Vegas Valley is drying out

National Weather Service forecasters did not rule out a thundershower for this afternoon or evening, but said Southern Nevada is drying out gradually.

It may take until Saturday to bring drier conditions more typical of the desert and daytime temperatures of 100 degrees again, but the Southwest monsoon with its moisture-ladened flow began to fade on Wednesday, Weather Service meteorologists said.

Wednesday's high was only 92 degrees because of the cloud cover.

The Las Vegas Valley was under a flash flood watch from noon to 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

Arrest made in man's death

Metro Police detectives arrested a 51-year-old Las Vegas man Tuesday in connection with the death of a man found Aug. 12 in a drainage culvert near Tropicana Avenue and Valley View Boulevard.

Randall George Haley was charged with murder with a deadly weapon in the death of Abdul Ghani Harb, 63, who has no known address, Lt. Tom Monahan said.

Haley was being held in the Clark County Detention Center.

Harb had been in the culvert for some time, police said. A passerby found the remains and called police.

Insurance company raises auto rates

American Family Mutual Insurance Co., which covers 46,497 vehicles in Nevada, has received permission from the state to raise auto insurance by an average of 4.4 percent.

The specific premium increases will vary by customer, the type of coverage, the number of miles driven and other factors.

The cost of bodily injury and property damage coverage, which is required by Nevada law, will increase by about 5.5 percent. Medical payments coverage will rise 16.2 percent; uninsured motorist coverage goes up 15.8 percent; collision will decline 0.1 percent; and comprehensive will rise 2.5 percent.

The increases will be effective on Oct. 18. The last rate increase was in December 2002 for 0.2 percent.