Shootout startles gated community

Heather Rawlyk

Friday, July 30, 2004 | 9:28 a.m.

Two men were shot in an exchange of gunfire outside a northwest Las Vegas home Thursday afternoon, leading to a police chase that ended at at a truck stop about 10 miles away.

The gun battle was the result of a botched take-over robbery by three suspects who apparently knew the tenants in the 7700 block of Maple Meadow Place, near Floyd Lamb State Park, police said.

Three armed suspects entered the house at about 4:15 p.m. with guns drawn, police said. Police said the suspects tried to steal jewelry, about $9,000 in cash and 30 pounds of marijuana later confiscated by investigators.

The suspects used red crime scene tape to restrain the people in the home, including Lance Croman, police said. They managed to break free and pull their own weapons, and the gun fight ensued, police said.

During the gun battle about 15 rounds were fired with at least one suspect hit four times. Croman was struck once in the leg, police said.

Croman was taken to University Medical Center, where he was treated and released. He was arrested and charged with drug-related offenses, police said. The wounded suspect, who police have not identified, underwent surgery at UMC and was in stable condition Thursday, authorities said.

A Metro Police gang unit in the gated neighborhood, near U.S. 95 and Durango Drive, on an unrelated call at 4:20 p.m. heard the gunshots, according to Metro Lt. Lew Roberts.

When the officers drove around the corner, they saw a group of men shooting back and forth in front of a home on Maple Meadow Place, Roberts said.

Four men got inside a gold Ford Expedition and sped away, Roberts said. The men were successful in eluding police officers, but crashed the SUV near the Las Vegas Beltway and North Decatur Boulevard.

Two men then got out of the SUV and jumped over a wall, while the remaining two occupants continued to drive down the beltway, Roberts said.

A citizen noticed the SUV was driving "out of control with bullet holes in the windshield" and decided to follow it, while contacting police to report the situation, according to Metro Lt. Dave Braden.

Police caught up with the SUV and its two occupants at the Flying J Travel Plaza truck stop, at 1000 E. Cheyenne Ave., Roberts said.

One of the men had a gunshot wound in his leg and was taken to UMC, Braden said. He was also listed in fair condition Thursday night.

The driver of the SUV told police he had been kidnapped by the other men, "but that was not really true," Roberts said. The driver also told police the other men had climbed out of the vehicle at the beltway and Decatur.

Police scoured a neighborhood near the intersection for a couple of hours, knocking on doors of nearby homes, Roberts said. The two men were eventually found and taken into police custody, he said.

In addition to the 30 pounds of marijuana, two firearms were found inside the house, police said. A gym bag, believed to have been carried by the suspects, was also found, containing a bulletproof vest, ballistic helmet and black gloves, police said. A handgun that had been thrown out of the window of the SUV was also recovered, police said.

Brad Karcher, who lives down the street from the residence, said he looked out his window and saw a man with a handgun in his front yard. Karcher said he saw a tan SUV "take off down the road," while the man in his yard pointed the gun at the fleeing vehicle.

Another neighbor, who wished to remain unidentified, said he saw the men shooting at each other and called 911.

"I saw a lot of people with guns, shooting at each other, and a lot of plain-clothed police officers pull up," he said. "I heard quite a few pops, like 'pop-pop-pop.' "

The neighbor said the men had moved into the residence a few months ago and had numerous parties.

"They've never bothered me, but there is some unusual stuff that goes on there," he said. "A lot of brand new cars drive in and out of there all the time, and they never have license plates. Could be guys buying or selling drugs."

Neighbor John Taylor said he was surprised an incident like this could happen in his neighborhood.

"In a gated community, you don't think this stuff is supposed to happen," Taylor said.