2 accused in fatal 7-Eleven shooting facing more charges

By Tiffany Gibson

Published Wednesday, May 5, 2010 | 12:23 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, May 5, 2010 | 4:47 p.m.

The case of two men arrested in connection with the shooting death of a 7-Eleven store clerk March 24 was bound over to district court Wednesday after a North Las Vegas judge approved new charges against them that pertain to a prior robbery at the same store earlier that month.

Jerome Bolton, 22, is charged with one count each of murder with a deadly weapon, robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery in the robbery and shooting death of 38-year-old Suchinma Revtissamahramaye.

Jason Miller, 24, is charged with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary with a deadly weapon and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon in that case.

An amended criminal complaint by the District Attorney’s Office combined the two robberies into one case. Both men have been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary with a deadly weapon and robbery with a deadly weapon in a March 11 robbery at the same 7-Eleven store.

North Las Vegas Police said that at about 2 a.m. March 24, Bolton and Miller entered the 7-Eleven store at 2100 E. Cheyenne Ave., at the intersection of North Civic Center Drive. Police allege Miller approached Revtissamahramaye and demanded money from the cash register while Bolton acted as a lookout. Revtissamahramaye followed Miller's demands and gave him money, then Miller allegedly shot the clerk, police said.

During the robbery, two customers tried to enter the store but Miller allegedly threatened them with a gun and ordered them to leave. The customers left the store and weren't injured. Miller's alleged threats to the customers brought the two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, authorities said.

Bolton’s attorney, Jeannie Hua, said Miller was the only person charged in the March 11 robbery until prosecutors submitted the amended criminal complaint Monday. She says there is no evidence linking Bolton to the robbery.

At a preliminary hearing Monday, Hua asked North Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Natalie Tyrrell to review the videotape and photographs of the first robbery. She said she is also disputing charges of Bolton’s involvement in the fatal March 24 robbery.

Tyrrell bound over Bolton to district court Wednesday during a decision hearing, charging him with three extra counts for the March 11 robbery.

“I was really disappointed and respectfully disagree,” Hua said.

She said she plans to file a writ of habeas corpus after the arraignment, asking that charges stemming from the March 11 incident be dropped against Bolton.

Miller’s attorney, Pete Christiansen, said he won't ask for dismissal of the March 11 charges because witness testimony revealed Miller was involved.

Bolton and Miller will appear in district court for arraignment at 9 a.m. May 20. Both are being held in the North Las Vegas Detention Center without bail.