News briefs for July 8, 1999

Appeal denied in LV stabbing

The Nevada Supreme Court Wednesday denied the appeal of Lonnie L. Sparks, sentenced to 25 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of a man in a Las Vegas apartment in 1993.

The court rejected the claim by Sparks that his guilty plea to second-degree murder was involuntary because the court refused to appoint another attorney for him and to delay his trial. The court said the District Court record showed Sparks' plea was freely and voluntarily given.

Sparks was arrested after Tony Lee Grove was found stabbed to death with a butcher knife in a Tam Drive apartment on May 9, 1993.

The state initially filed notice to seek the death penalty. At a preliminary hearing in Justice Court, there was testimony that Sparks and the victim had been smoking cocaine the night of the stabbing. They both went into the bathroom of the apartment, but then Sparks came out with the bloody knife.

He then changed clothes to get rid of his bloody pants and left the area. Grove had one stab wound to his chest and two in the back.

Teen, 16, dies of head wound

A 16-year-old boy found shot in the head early Wednesday has died at University Medical Center.

Police found the teenager, identified as Israel Jose Reyes of Las Vegas, on the sidewalk in the 3700 block of Central Park Drive just after 2:30 a.m. Several people in the area heard shots fired, but Metro Police have not found anyone who witnessed the shooting, nor have they established a motive for the crime.

Reyes had contact with the police before and "the gang unit was aware of him," Lt. Wayne Petersen of Metro's homicide division said today.

Citizens learn how police work

Graduation for the Citizens Police Academy for Young Adults will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Metro's training bureau at 861 N. Mojave Road.

The 16 graduates began the academy May 11 and over the past nine weeks have learned about different aspects of the police department.

Boy, 7, released from hospital

The 7-year-old boy who nearly drowned in Clark County's Sunrise Pool June 30 has been released from University Medical Center.

A lifeguard pulled the unconscious boy from the water and, with the help of a registered nurse who happened to be at the pool, administered CPR until paramedics arrived.

Those who helped rescue the boy will be honored at the Clark County Commissioners' meeting July 20.

Grand opening held over holiday weekend

The new Northwest Service Leisure Center Pool made a huge splash over the holiday weekend, drawing a record grand-opening turnout.

About 6,500 people visited the $2.1 million center over the July Fourth weekend.

The pool, located at Gowan Road and Durango Drive, opened July 3 and remained free of charge to all residents throughout the holiday weekend.

On Saturday an estimated 1,800 people used the facility, followed by 1,500 on Sunday and 3,200 on Monday.

Councilman Larry Brown, who represents the northwest's Ward 4, was first down the water slide and into the pool on Saturday.

archive