Rapper killed; friend wounded

Friday, June 3, 2005 | 10:57 a.m.

Just over a week after a Kansas City, Mo., artist was found shot to death in southwest Las Vegas, a local rapper and his friend were gunned down Thursday night outside of a Las Vegas recording studio.

The victim was identified as 33-year-old Roosevelt "Mr. Looks" Hines of Las Vegas. The second man, Thomas Richards, 30, was wounded and is being treated at University Medical Center.

Police were investigating whether a link exists between the May 23 murder of Anthony "Fat Tone" Watkins and his friend, Jermaine Akins, at a construction site near Southern Highlands and this shooting.

"We've established no connection, but it would be foolish to dismiss it out of hand," Metro Police Homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said.

He pointed out that last week's homicides are believed to have been premeditated while Thursday night's homicide appears to have been a spontaneous act sparked by a disagreement.

In the latest shooting, police were dispatched to the 2400 block of Western Avenue near Sahara Avenue and Interstate 15 about 9:25 p.m. and discovered a vehicle that had crashed into a light pole, Monahan said.

The driver, Richards, and passenger, Hines, both were shot. Hines died at the scene.

Witnesses told homicide detectives that Hines and Richards had gotten into an argument with several men in the parking lot of Dunjun Studios at 2411 Western Ave., Monahan said.

The dispute escalated and the men began shooting at Hines and Richards, who were trying to drive away.

Hines' girlfriend Christie Morgan, 29, burst into tears as she arrived at the crime scene.

"I was on the freeway and saw the rental car," Morgan said. Hines had been cutting one of the last of three songs for a CD album at the studio, she said.

Hines was a devoted father to his 13-year-old daughter, Katrina, Morgan said.

When he wasn't working at Alamo Rental Car, he stayed at home and played the keyboard, Morgan said.

"He was a hard worker, he was a good man," Morgan said. "If he's not there, he's here," she added, pointing to the studio.

Hines, the passenger in the car, was dead when patrol officers arrived.

Richards, the driver, was taken to University Medical Center and was undergoing treatment, Monahan said.

Detectives were hoping Richards would be able to give them information on what led up to the shooting. Police had no suspects this morning.

Some witnesses told police that a couple of cars were seen speeding toward the I-15 entrance, but Monahan said investigators did not know whether they were involved in the double shooting.

"We recovered quite a number of shell casings," Monahan said.

Whether the shooting is gang related should be discovered during the investigation, he said.

Morgan said that Hines did not associate with gangster rappers.

Hines rapped about "reality," about how he grew up in New York City and was raised by his mother, Patricia Ann Shaw, who is ill.

Moments after the shooting occurred, a fire broke out in an apartment unit east of the incident, when a frying pan was left on a stove, Monahan said. The fire did not appear to be connected to the shooting, but arson investigators combed through the apartment.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said firefighters doused the blaze quickly and no one was injured.

Morgan said that she had known Hines for nine years and had lived with him for the past two years.

"A lot of people don't like the music," Morgan said. "I can't bring him back, but I can listen to his CDs."

"It's bad for the family and loved ones, but if someone knows something, speak out," she said.

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