Suspects in killing at McDonald’s will face trial in other robberies

By Matt Pordum

Tuesday, March 22, 2005 | 9:20 a.m.

Two men accused of robbing two McDonald's restaurants and killing a convention attendee who attempted to stop them from fleeing will also stand trial in several robberies and burglaries committed the month before the killing.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo ruled Monday enough evidence existed for Charles Anthony Walker and Shawn White to stand trial on multiple counts of robbery, burglary and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with holdups of three 7-Elevens, a Jack in the Box restaurant and a Grumpy's Convenience Store in January.

Walker and White are scheduled for arraignment before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure on April 4.

They are already scheduled to stand trial Aug. 15 before Bonaventure in the Jan. 21 killing of 49-year-old Thomas Latimer of Maitland, Fla., and multiple charges of robbery and burglary.

Latimer, who was attending the World of Concrete show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, was killed when he tried to stop robbers from fleeing with money they stole from a McDonald's on Paradise Road near Twain Avenue.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Robert Daskas said he will seek the death penalty for Walker and is still investigating whether or not enough evidence to warrant the death penalty exists against White.

Clerks from the 7-Elevens and Grumpy's Convenience Store that were robbed identified Walker and White in court Monday and their testimony also indicated that all of the robberies were committed in the same manner.

The cashiers testified said Walker and White would enter the store and come to the register with bottles of soda. Walker would then ask if he could purchase a phone card and hand the cashier money for the transaction. As the register opened Walker pulled out a handgun and White leapt over the counter and grabbed the money and cigarettes, the cashiers testified.

The robbers' method was the same as employees of two McDonald's said robbers used at their restaurants.

Those cashiers said Walker ordered food and when the register was opened he pulled out a gun while White jumped over the counter to grab the money.