Jailed man linked to officer shooting case

Detectives suspect a man who is in the Clark County jail on unrelated charges may be involved in a restaurant robbery that led to an officer being shot in the face, Metro Police told the Sun.

"There is a person who may be involved, but right now there is only one person charged," Lt. Wayne Petersen of Metro's homicide unit said.

Markus Weatherspoon, 22, is being held without bond in the Clark County Detention Center in connection with the June 14 robbery and shooting of Metro Officer Pete Rossi. Weatherspoon is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Justice Court.

Petersen would not reveal any information about the second possible suspect other than he was in jail on unrelated charges and was arrested sometime after the robbery and shooting. He said he would not release the suspect's name unless the suspect is arrested in connection with the robbery and shooting.

"We have information we are trying to confirm and the investigation is continuing," he said. "We believe there was someone driving the getaway car for a total of four suspects."

Police are still searching for another two men in connection with the robbery of the Macayo Vegas restaurant, 4457 W. Charleston Blvd., just before 11 p.m. June 14. As a trio of robbers fled the scene running toward a getaway car, one of the robbers fired shots at Rossi.

Police now believe when the bullet went through the windshield it split apart, with one fragment hitting Rossi, 26, in the chin and the other fragment going into his eye.

Rossi was at UCLA's medical school Monday to have another eye surgeon evaluate his eye, Sheriff Jerry Keller said.

"He went there with his mother to try to save his sight. This is the last option," Keller said. "His spirits are as good as possible."

Rossi, a three-year Metro veteran, was released from University Medical Center last week.

Less than 17 hours after Rossi was shot, Weatherspoon was arrested at a duplex at 1297 N. N St.

Weatherspoon, described by Keller as having "a very violent past," has previous arrests for domestic battery and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime. He is wanted in North Las Vegas and Los Angeles on drug-related charges.

Weatherspoon has ties to the Las Vegas Valley and to Los Angeles, but Petersen said police believe the other suspects in the crime are locals.

A woman who rented the sport utility vehicle used as the getaway car was charged last week with embezzlement of a vehicle. Kimberly Landrum, 25, is accused of renting the vehicle in April and never returning it to the rental car agency, police said. She was not charged in connection with the robbery or shooting.

The 2000 Chevy Blazer was abandoned near the restaurant. Detectives collected evidence from the car. Police are seeking a DNA sample from Weatherspoon to compare it to evidence collected, but declined to specify what evidence would be compared.

"We've got a lot to work with," Petersen has said. "We're working on information to identify the other suspects. All of the physical evidence will assist in making that connection between the other suspects and the crime."

A judge will likely hear the motion asking for a DNA sample Wednesday, when Weatherspoon is arraigned.

At a Metro fiscal oversight board meeting Monday, Keller said detectives are continuing to follow leads and praised Rossi.

"He was a police officer putting himself in harm's way trying (to protect people)," he said. "We'll always have a space for him. He's a good officer."

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