Judge to allow testimony of slain guard’s co-workers

Thursday, July 15, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.

A ruling Wednesday by District Judge John McGroarty is expected to help prosecutors' case against a 22-year-old alleged gang member accused of killing a security guard outside a Las Vegas Housing Authority complex.

Markette Tillman is charged with murder in the Jan. 20 shooting of 29-year-old Brian Wilcox of Henderson. Tillman's alleged previous threats against Wilcox will be part of the trial thanks to McGroarty's ruling. So will Tillman's alleged involvement in a drive-by shooting that took place six days before Wilcox was killed.

McGroarty ruled the testimony from Wilcox's former colleagues at Guardian Security who said they saw Tillman threaten and throw bottles and rocks at Wilcox could be introduced at trial.

Prosecutors also will be allowed to tell the jury that the casings used in a drive-by shooting in which Tillman is alleged to have been the shooter came out of the same gun as the casings used to kill Wilcox.

While no one was harmed in the drive-by, Tillman faces attempted murder charges in a case before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure that is currently scheduled to begin Aug. 2.

Special Public Defender Bret Whipple asked for and received more time to investigate the threats his client is alleged to have made and the drive-by shooting.

While patrolling the Sherman Annex Apartments at 1710 H St., Wilcox and another security guard encountered several young men who had been banned from the property after repeatedly trespassing, police said.

The group became hostile and the guards decided to leave the area until more help could arrive. As Wilcox and the other guard race away on their bicycles, someone, who prosecutors contend was Tillman, shot at them.