Court appearance delayed again for man shot by Henderson police

By Dave Toplikar

Published Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012 | 9:38 a.m.

Updated Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012 | 2:25 p.m.

A court appearance has been again delayed for Tony McNeill, 53, who is facing felony charges after being shot by Henderson police on Dec. 26 at his home.

A court marshal told reporters Wednesday morning that McNeill, who allegedly pointed a rifle at officers before being shot, was still in Sunrise Hospital and would not be appearing in court. He was taken to the hospital for surgery after the shooting, in which he was wounded in the chest.

Justice of the Peace Stephen George delayed the hearing until 9 a.m. Jan. 10. The case was to have been heard on Tuesday, but was rescheduled for today. The judge has set bail for McNeill, who is under guard at the hospital, at $24,000.

McNeill was arrested on three felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon and three felony counts of discharging a firearm at a structure.

Henderson Police reported that McNeill’s mother, Charlene McNeill, called authorities on Dec. 26 after she heard gunshots and said her son had a gun and was pointing it at himself.

Officers John Bellow, Kevin Perkins and Christopher Gerhard responded about 1:50 p.m. to their home in Country Hills condominiums at 698 South Racetrack Road, near Boulder Highway, according to the arrest report.

Police said when they arrived, the officers stationed themselves at the entry gate of the complex, about 30 feet away from the front door of the residence that McNeill shared with his parents.

According to the report, Perkins said he saw the armed man come out of the condo holding a rifle pointed towards the ground.

Perkins then told the man to drop his weapon and surrender, according to the arrest report.

Bellow, Gerhardt and Perkins fired at the man when he raised the rifle and pointed towards the officers, the report said.

The officers will remain on routine on paid administrative leave during the investigation, according to police.