Woman still jailed in shooting

Monday, Oct. 6, 2003 | 9:43 a.m.

A Las Vegas mother remains in the Clark County Detention Center for shooting a man who she alleges molested her 5-year-old son.

Donna Hatch is charged with attempted murder and battery with substantial bodily harm in connection with the shooting of Christian Rockwell. Her bail is set at $35,000. She has been in jail since Sept. 15.

According to the arrest report, about 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 1, Metro Police were called about a shooting at the Cambridge Towers Apartments, 3875 Cambridge St., near Maryland Parkway and East Flamingo Road.

Police found Rockwell on the ground with gunshot wounds to his head and upper torso. Donna Hatch and her husband, Patrick, were at the scene, along with two handguns, the report says.

Detectives interviewed the Hatches and they said their son told them several hours earlier that Rockwell tried to molest him. They filed a police report, then went to look for Rockwell. Donna Hatch brought a gun, the report says.

The couple confronted Rockwell on the fifth floor. According to the 911 tape, Patrick Hatch said, "She's got him at gunpoint." One second later, the victim is shot twice, the report says. "She shot him, she shot him," Patrick Hatch told the 911 call-taker.

Donna Hatch could be heard in the background saying "in a monotone voice, 'He attacked me.' " In later interviews with police, she said Rockwell grabbed her by the throat, but detectives were suspicious about her explanation, according to the police reports.

On Sept. 11, detectives spoke with Rockwell at University Medical Center where he had undergone several surgeries. He said he had a conversation with Donna Hatch about whether he tried to molest her son, but he denied attacking or touching her, the report says.

Detectives think that when Rockwell found out the police were coming, he tried to get away to avoid arrest by running past her and trying to climb onto the fire escape.

Rockwell told police the whole time Donna Hatch was talking to him, she had one hand behind her back but he didn't actually see the gun until she brought it around and shot him.

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