Suspect waives hearing in fatal shooting through door

Erica D. Johnson

Thursday, June 19, 2003 | 9:25 a.m.

A North Las Vegas man accused of killing a 26-year-old woman by firing bullets through her closed apartment door will be tried on murder charges.

Aaron Lamont Eagles, 21, waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday before North Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Stephen Dahl. The waiver allows the case to proceed directly to District Court.

Eagles faces one count each of open murder and attempted murder with a deadly weapon in the shooting that killed Jessica Korschinowski, 26, and injured her boyfriend, Charles McDonald, 33.

He also faces a charge of battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm and two additional firearms charges.

Eagles will be arraigned July 1 before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure.

Deputy Special Public Defender Gloria Navarro declined to comment directly on why her client chose to waive the hearing.

"A lot of thought went into it," she said. "We thought it was the best thing for him."

Deputy District Attorney Tom Carroll said about four witnesses were prepared to testify against Eagles at the scheduled hearing.

"We were prepared and wanting to put on witnesses," he said.

McDonald, who has recovered from his injuries, was one of the witnesses prepared to take the stand, Carroll said.

Authorities say the shooting was sparked by an argument between Eagles and McDonald at the apartment complex at 1505 W. Cartier Ave., where both men lived.

Police say Eagles went to his apartment and grabbed a gun and McDonald ran back into the apartment he shared with Korschinowski and locked the door.

Ten shots were fired through the closed door, striking Korschinowski in the chest and McDonald in the right arm, police said.

Eagles has a prior felony conviction for drug charges, Carroll said.