Investigation continues into drive-by shooting that injured 4-year-old girl

Wednesday, July 20, 2005 | 9:04 a.m.

Metro Police are continuing their investigation into a freeway shooting that wounded a 4-year-old girl while she was riding in her father's car on Interstate 15 near the Charleston Boulevard exit Sunday night.

Lt. John Alamshaw of Metro's violent crimes section said the girl's father, Rock Orpez, had left a friend's house and was heading home on I-15 north about 9:50 p.m. when a red sport utility vehicle passed and fired several shots at his Honda Accord.

Orpez heard the passenger window break and saw his daughter had been shot in the arm. Doctors determined he bullet went through her arm and chest and came out of her side.

Orpez, the manager of a fast food restaurant, also had his two other children, ages 1 and 5, in the back seat when the shooting occurred. They were not hurt, police said.

After the shots were fired, Orpez called 911 on his cell phone and tried to catch up with the vehicle, which he described as a red Suburban or Yukon with Minnesota plates, police said.

Orpez followed the vehicle for more than four miles before exiting at Flamingo Road.

"I don't think he knew the extent of the injury at the time," Alamshaw said, explaining why Orpez passed up opportunities to drive to hospitals and instead chased the other car for about 9 miles.

Orpez finally pulled into the parking lot of a CVS Pharmacy, 4595 E. Flamingo Road, and an employee called police. Medical personnel were dispatched and took the girl to Sunrise, where she is in stable condition. Her injury is not life-threatening.

Alamshaw said detectives are working with the information Orpez was able to provide about the sport utility vehicle but Alamshaw wouldn't elaborate.

It's not clear if the shooting was random or if it was connected to a prior incident between Orpez and the gunman. Alamshaw said it doesn't appear to be a result of road rage, nor does it look gang-related.