News briefs for July 9, 2003

Wednesday, July 9, 2003 | 11:27 a.m.

Woman pleads guilty in fatal DUI case

A Las Vegas woman charged with driving drunk and causing a collision that killed two people pleaded guilty to multiple felony counts Tuesday in District Court.

Mackida Ferrell pleaded guilty to four counts of felony DUI causing death or substantial bodily harm in the March collision that killed Veronica Wilburn, 28, and James Crockett, 18, and injured Benjamin Jones, 19, and Wilburn's 7-year-old daughter.

Ferrell, 24, showed no emotion as she told District Judge John McGroarty what she did to warrant her guilty plea.

"I was driving under the influence, struck a vehicle and killed two people and severely hurt another," she said.

Heat could break records

Southern Nevada's temperatures could tie or break records through this week, National Weather Service forecasters said.

The dome of high pressure clamped down on the West will keep any summer thunderstorms from forming.

The main story is heat reaching 113 degrees or higher.

On Tuesday the high was 109 degrees, five degrees shy of the 114-degree record set July 8, 1989.

High temperatures could retreat a degree or two by Monday, to 112 or so, but the temperatures will remain above normal, forecasters said.

Suspect sought in woman's slaying

Metro Police are seeking information about the killing of a 36-year-old Las Vegas woman in her home on the 5900 block of Carmen Boulevard.

Cindy Marie Grappin of Las Vegas was found dead Sunday after neighbors went inside her home to check on Grappin who had not been seen in a few days. The woman appeared to have suffered stab wounds.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Metro Police Homicide Section at 229-3521 or CrimeStoppers at 385-5555.

Man identified in shooting

The Clark County coroner's office has identified Raul Lopez, 19 of Las Vegas, as the man killed early Monday in the 2500 block of St. George Street.

Lopez was found with a gunshot wound in the head and pronounced dead on the scene. Another man Rudolpho Serrano Jr., 18, was taken to University Medical Center with a gunshot wound in the abdomen.

Serrano described the shooter as a heavyset man driving a black Ford F150. North Las Vegas Police are continuing the investigation, anyone with information is asked to call the North Las Vegas Police at 633-9111 or CrimeStoppers at 385-5555

Man, 23, shot to death

A 23-year-old man was shot to death Tuesday afternoon after Metro Police said he got involved in a "staring confrontation" with a man at a store near Eastern Avenue and Fremont Street.

Officers received a call about 3 p.m. reporting that a man had been shot in an apartment stairwell. He was taken to University Medical Center where he died a short time later.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his 20s, 5-feet-6 and 160 pounds. He was wearing a white tank top, black nylon pants and sunglasses.

Anyone with information can call Metro Homicide at 229-3521 or CrimeStoppers at 385-5555.