Shotgun killing detailed

By Matt Pordum (contact)

Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2004 | 8:55 a.m.

A 25-year-old man accused of killing the sister of a Clark County prosecutor in a house shared by six methamphetamine users will stand trial on a charge of murder, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Nathaniel Reed ruled Tuesday.

Andrea "Andi" Hendricks, 25, was found dead of shotgun wounds on Nov. 4 in a bedroom of a home at the 5300 block of Images Court near Decatur Boulevard and Meadows Lane.

Defendant Sean Sales smiled frequently while in court Tuesday for his preliminary hearing.

During the hearing, David Grace, an admitted methamphetamine user who lived at the house where Hendricks was killed, said during the early morning hours of Nov. 4 he was in an upstairs bedroom of the house that had been converted into an office with his sister, Christy Squires, housemate Jim Neiswonger, Hendricks and Sales.

Grace said he sensed trouble and left the room, and after a few minutes had passed he heard "a thump on the ground." Christy Squires testified the "thump" was Hendricks falling to her knees as she tried to get away from an enraged Sales.

"Andi (Hendricks) was crying, asking for help," Grace said, adding that he couldn't do much to help her because Sales was holding a "sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun."

When Sales ordered Grace to leave, Grace grabbed his sister and proceeded to the stairs, he testified.

He said as he reached the stairs he heard Sales scream, "You (Hendricks) shouldn't have stolen from me," to which Hendricks responded, "I didn't steal anything from you." He said as he rushed down the stairs he heard the first of what would be three shotgun blasts.

Grace said he was "positive" the only two people in the bedroom when the gun was fired were Sales and Hendricks.

Grace's testimony was corroborated by his sister, Neiswonger and another housemate, Inga Kornback, who were all unemployed and lived at the home rent free.

All of the former roommates said after hearing the gunshots they ran out of the house and out of the neighborhood. They said they tried to call the police from a local grocery store but couldn't figure out how to use the phone so they fled.

Sales was arrested on Nov. 7. That same day 41-year-old James Stone was found shot dead in his home on Buffalo Drive near Grand Teton Drive.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Robert Daskas said an investigation into whether Sales killed Stone is ongoing. Daskas said if Sales is charged in Stone's death the cases would most likely be combined and the prosecution may seek the death penalty.

Sales is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center on charges of murder with a weapon, attempted robbery, two counts of robbery, and two counts of burglary in connection to Hendricks killing. His arraignment is slated for Dec. 21 before District Judge Michelle Leavitt.