News briefs for March 29, 2004

Monday, March 29, 2004 | 9:49 a.m.

Family escapes from burning house

A mother and her two infant children escaped from their burning home in northwest Las Vegas on Saturday after electrical wiring in a closet sparked a blaze, fire officials said.

Damage to the house at 7821 Everclear Court was estimated at $75,000.

The American Red Cross is assisting the family, the fire department said.

Firefighters arrived to find the single-story home in flames with heavy smoke coming from the rear of the house.

Smoke detectors in the home alerted the mother, who was able to get her children to safety.

De Braga to run against Goicoechea

Former Assemblywoman Marcia de Braga, D-Fallon, will run in the upcoming election, challenging Assemblyman Peter Goicoechea, R-Eureka. He defeated her two years ago.

The district, Assembly District 35, includes all of White Pine, Eureka and Pershing counties and parts of Churchill, Lander, Humboldt and Washoe counties. The most recent registration totals available showed 6,852 Democrats, 10,066 Republicans and 2,782 nonpartisans in the district.

Apartment security guard shot

A security guard at a Las Vegas apartment complex was in critical condition at University Medical Center today after being shot in the neck in what witnesses told Metro Police was an apparent drive-by shooting.

The guard -- whose name, age and place of residence were not released -- was shot about 1:40 a.m. at the Palm Hills Apartments, 4770 E. Owens Ave., near North Nellis Boulevard, police said.

It was not known whether the guard was on duty or was just walking in the area at the time of the incident, police said.

Witnesses told police a dark Chevrolet Impala pulled up to the man and several shots were fired. Police did not release further information about the vehicle or suspect information this morning.

Mexican fugitives arrested in LV

Two brothers sought as fugitives in a Mexico billiard hall slaying almost four years ago have been arrested in Southern Nevada, U.S. marshals said today.

Leonardo Ortega-Espitia, 37, and Ambrosio Francisco Ortega-Espitia, 41, were wanted in the April 19, 2000, slaying of Ricardo Murillo-Murillo and the attempted murder of Pascual Castanon-Dorado and Efrain Vazquez Miranda at a pool hall in Zacatecas, Mexico, the marshals service said.

The Ortegas were arrested late Friday in Las Vegas after Mexican authorities sought help from marshals and immigration officers to make the arrest, the authorities said.