Police: Car thief shoots at victim

Wednesday, March 9, 2005 | 9:36 a.m.

A man driving a stolen sport utility vehicle fired shots at a man who tried to confront him about the theft in the parking lot of a Budget Suites on Tuesday morning, Metro Police said.

The victim lent his Chevrolet Tahoe recently to 24-year-old Tiffany Harrel, who refused to return it, Officer Jose Montoya, police spokesman, said. The victim, driving a rental car, spotted his Tahoe at a Budget Suites at 3655 W. Sahara Ave.

The victim and a friend, driving separately, followed the Tahoe and blocked it in at a dead end outside the motel about 9 a.m. Tuesday, police said.

Harrel was in the passenger seat, and 31-year-old John Vaughn was driving. Vaughn put the car in reverse and rammed the victim's friend's car, pushing it out of the way, then got out and fired two shots at it, hitting the windshield, Montoya said. No one was hurt.

After that Vaughn got away and pulled out of the parking lot. A Metro officer spotted the SUV and became suspicious after seeing the damage to it and tried to pull it over. The driver didn't stop, police said.

Vaughn headed to the Las Vegas Strip and, going 20-30 mph with an officer behind him, drove between the Luxor and Excalibur. The vehicle stopped and police took Vaughn and Harrel into custody, according to police.

Vaughn was arrested for evading police and for being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm. Harrel was arrested for possession of stolen property.