News briefs for July 10, 2003

Thursday, July 10, 2003 | 11:31 a.m.

Shooting leaves one dead, one injured

A passenger in a Chevrolet sedan was killed and the driver was wounded early this morning when a sport utility vehicle pulled up alongside it and began shooting in the 2500 block of East Flamingo Road, according to Metro Police.

Detectives believe the shooting was a result of a feud, Lt. Tom Monahan said.

The edan was traveling along East Flamingo about 1:15 a.m. when a white or beige large-sized sport utility vehicle with a broken headlight pulled up alongside it.

Gunfire erupted from the sport utility vehicle, striking the sedan and its occupants multiple times.

The driver was taken to University Medical Center's Trauma Unit and the passenger was pronounced dead by paramedics, Monahan said.

The name of the passenger was being withheld until his family could be notified, the Clark County coroner's office said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or Metro's homicide section at 229-3521. A reward is offered.

Man charged with stealing

Detectives from Metro's repeat offender unit arrested a man Tuesday on charges of stealing numerous rental moving trucks filled with people's personal belongings.

William Scott, who was recently released from a Utah prison, was being held at Clark County Detention Center on charges of grand larceny auto, felony evading and being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm. The U.S. Attorney's Office will prosecute Scott for the gun violation, Metro Sgt. Dave Levins said.

Detectives watching Scott saw him get into a stolen 2003 Dodge truck that was loaded with stolen property, Levins said.

Patrol officers joined the detectives and tried to stop Scott near Nellis and Owens. A chase ensued, and ended in a residential cul-de-sac, where Scott jumped out of the truck and ran, Levins said.

Metro is asking for other possible victims to come forward. Detective Jose Hernandez is handling the investigation and can be reached at 229-3665.

Man in Metro's custody dies

A man having "extreme cardiac difficulty" died after he was taken into custody this morning by Metro Police officers, homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said.

The homicide unit is involved because it investigates all in-custody deaths, Monahan said.

The man's name will be released by the Clark County coroner's office. He was in his 20s or 30s, Monahan said.

Quarantine zone shrinks further

The state and federal departments of Agriculture announced the quarantine zone for Exotic Newcastle Disease continues to shrink to an area in northeast Las Vegas that includes only the infected premises.

Dr. David Thain, state veterinarian, said that birds may now move freely outside the quarantine zone. In January moving birds in all of Clark County and Southern Nye County were restricted.

A toll-free number for reporting sick birds will remain in operation for several months. The number is (866) 490-2991.

Nursing assistant pleads guilty

A nursing assistant accused of abusing a 79-year-old woman in a Las Vegas nursing home pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge, Attorney General Brian Sandoval said on Wednesday.

Debra Pimentel, 45, was sentenced by Las Vegas Justice of the Peace James M. Bixler to 15 days jail time, which was suspended.

Bixler ordered Pimentel, a certified nursing assistant, to take an anger management course, do 80 hours of community service and she is not to be employed in any capacity involving the elderly.