News briefs for July 5, 2005

Tuesday, July 5, 2005 | 9:41 a.m.

Suspect arrested in two stabbings

Metro Police arrested a man this morning in two stabbings and a fire in his apartment.

The attacks took place just after 3 a.m. Police said the suspect , whose name was not released this morning, stabbed a neighbor at the St. James Place Apartments, 2615 Gary Ave., near Silverado Ranch Boulevard and Las Vegas Boulevard South.

The victim ran to the Instant Replay sports bar at 9495 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and the attacker followed, stabbing another person at the bar, Officer Bill Cassel, Metro spokesman, said.

Officers spotted a man running from the scene and apprehended him. He told police he had set his apartment on fire, police said. Firefighters responded and extinguished the small blaze.

Both victims were being treated at University Medical Center this morning.

Man charged in slaying

A 22-year-old Las Vegas man was arrested and charged with murder with a deadly weapon in connection with the killing of a man whose body was left in an alley early Saturday morning.

The coroner's office this morning identified the victim as Gilbert Archuleta, 26.

Officers responded to a call about 4:45 a.m. Saturday that a man had been seen dragging a body from an apartment building near Odgen Avenue and Maryland Parkway.

Officers found the body of a man in an alley next to the building. Police followed the drag marks back to the apartment complex where they believe the killing took place.

Detectives arrested Ryan Layman about 1 p.m. Saturday in connection with the slaying.

School District seeks federal funds

The Clark County School District is seeking $1.3 million in federal funds for programs and services aimed at substance abuse and violence prevention.

For each of the last 15 years the district has received funding through the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities grant program. The money is used for community outreach, peer mediation and prevention clubs on school campuses.

"This grant means we will have more tools and more resources to help our students have a safe and drug-free environment in which to learn," Katie Barmettler, coordinator of the district program, said.

Man convicted in slaying of wife

A Henderson man who bludgeoned and stabbed his wife to death two years ago was convicted of first-degree murder on Friday.

Robert Allen, 59, admitted he did it but claimed the act was a crime of passion in asking the jury for a lesser conviction of second-degree murder.

Prosecutors said Allen's actions showed he premeditated the killing. He became angry when his wife, 38-year-old Laurel Allen, received a suspicious phone call, but didn't kill her until several hours later, when he was rubbing lotion into her naked body.

Allen hit his wife with heavy antique clothes irons, then stabbed her multiple times with kitchen knives.