Gunfight bullet count set at 85

Jen Lawson

Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004 | 10:59 a.m.

At least 85 bullets whizzed through the air Sunday night in a gang-related gunfight, and one of the three men who died was found grasping a Tec-9 semi-automatic handgun, Sheriff Bill Young said.

"It's a miracle that no John Q. Citizens were hurt," Young said, adding that those who died are all suspected gang members.

Police are investigating if there might have been an exchange of words at the Lowrider Magazine Super Show at Cashman Center before the shooting, which occurred about 8:50 p.m. in a shopping center parking lot on Rancho Drive near Washington Avenue.

But Lt. Lewis Roberts of the gang crimes section said this doesn't necessarily mark the beginning of a gang war.

Sometimes shootings are just crimes of opportunity when groups of gang members are gathered together, Roberts said.

"You don't necessarily have to have a (significant) catalyst to have a gang shooting," he said.

The victims and shooters were all at the car show earlier, and when groups of suspected gang members are gathered, "these things happen," Roberts said.

One of the victims has been identified by the coroner's office as 26-year-old Glenn Charles Taylor of North Las Vegas.

Police said Taylor is believed to be a gang member, and he has an extensive criminal background with numerous arrests for robbery, kidnapping, evading police, domestic violence, burglary, conspiracy, parole violations and firearms violations.

Another victim is a 26-year-old man, but his name and the name of the other dead man had not been released this morning.

Young said when police turned over one of the victims, they found a Tec-9 under his body. One of the other weapons used in the gunfight could have been a fully automatic weapon, police said.

"This is what the cops are up against," he said.

A "tremendous amount" of Metro officers were at the low-rider show, as well as gang detectives who were mingling and gathering information on gang members and activities, police said.

Police were aware of no problems between rival gang members at the show, Young said.

Anyone with information can call police at 229-3521 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.