Shooting suspect put on house arrest

Jace Radke

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2003 | 9:16 a.m.

A Las Vegas woman charged with shooting a man she alleges molested a 5-year-old member of her family was put on house arrest Monday while she waits for a preliminary hearing.

District Court Judge Valerie Adair released Donna Hatch to home detention pending a Nov. 14 preliminary hearing, despite the objections of prosecutors.

Hatch must be in constant contact with her bail enforcement officer, but will be allowed to go to her job at a local supermarket.

Hatch is charged with attempted murder and battery with substantial bodily harm in connection with the shooting of Christian Rockwell Sept. 1 at the Cambridge Towers Apartments.

Metro Police found Rockwell on the ground near Maryland Parkway and Flamingo Road with gunshot wounds in his head and chest.

According to police reports, the boy told Hatch and her husband that Rockwell had molested him. The Hatches filed a police report and went to look for Rockwell, according to police.

Donna Hatch brought a gun with her, and when she confronted Rockwell at his apartment, she shot him, police allege. Hatch said Rockwell attacked her and that she shot him in self-defense.

In later interviews with police, Hatch said Rockwell grabbed her by the throat. Rockwell later told police that he did have a discussion with Hatch, but never attacked her, and that he was trying to escape down a fire escape when he was shot.

Rockwell underwent several surgeries at University Medical Center and was released on Sept. 14. No charges have been filed against Rockwell, police said.