Las Vegas City Council honors victims of federal courthouse shooting

By Dave Toplikar

Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010 | 10:40 a.m.

The Las Vegas City Council took a moment of silence this morning in honor of the court security officer who was killed and a deputy U.S. marshal who was injured by a disgruntled man who opened fire Monday at the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse in downtown Las Vegas.

Mayor Oscar Goodman said the moment of silence was for 72-year-old Stanley Cooper, who died after being shot by Johnny Lee Wicks, 66, who walked into the courthouse and opened fire in what was a "horrible episode in our city's history."

Three deputy U.S. marshals and four court security officers returned fire and chased Wicks from the building. Cooper was able to fire one shot and the deputy marshal also returned fire, according to Metro police.

Wicks was wounded by a bullet to the stomach and suffered a fatal shot in the head in the 81-round exchange.

Cooper and the deputy marshal were taken to University Medical Center, where Cooper later died. The deputy marshal has been released from the hospital.

Goodman said he has been asked by the U.S. Marshals Service not to disclose the name of the deputy marshal, but said the officer "will know he is in our hearts and in our prayers."

Shortly before the moment of silence, Las Vegas Mayor Pro Tem Gary Reese said he had known Cooper for about 40 to 45 years.

"He was a very, very kind and caring gentleman," Reese said. "He didn't have to work. He had served for 26 years on the Metropolitan Police Department with honor."

Reese said Cooper was quiet and unassuming and "always had a smile on his face."

"He's certainly going to be missed," Reese said. "I'm truly thankful for the time I got to know Stan."