Las Vegas Shooting: Suspect May Face Death

Page last updated 13:06PM Saturday April 27, 2013

Sky News US Team

The suspect in the fatal shooting and fiery crash that killed three people on the Las Vegas Strip has been indicted on charges that could carry the death penalty.

A Clark County District Court grand jury indicted 27-year-old Ammar Harris on three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and seven counts of discharging a weapon.

Harris, self-described pimp, is accused of shooting from a black Range Rover into a Maserati sports car that then slammed into a taxi that burst into flames in February.

Taxi driver Michael Boldon, 62, and passenger Sandra Sutton-Wasmund, were killed. The Maserati driver, 27-year-old rapper, Kenny Clutch, died at hospital.

In an unexpected move, the grand jury also indicted Harris on a charge of robbery and three felony sex assault counts in a 2010 rape case that had been dismissed last year when the alleged victim refused to testify.

Prosecutor David Stanton said the second indictment did not represent double-jeopardy under Nevada law because the earlier case was dismissed without prejudice before a preliminary hearing.

That let prosecutors seek new charges when the alleged victim, who now lives in Texas, testified before the grand jury in Las Vegas.

The rape charges could put Harris in prison for a minimum of 10 years. He could get two to 15 years on the robbery charge if convicted.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson has said he was considering the death penalty in the Las Vegas Strip incident but had not made a decision.

Harris is expected to plead not guilty in both cases at a court hearing on May 6.

The shooting, which was described by witnesses as being like something from a Hollywood film, happened at the busy intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road, which is flanked by Caesars Palace, Bellagio, Bally's and the Flamingo.

Another man in the Maserati suffered gunshot wounds and survived. Five other people in several other vehicles were injured.

Police said Harris and Mr Clutch, whose real name was Kenneth Cherry, had exchanged angry words at a casino valet stand before speeding away.

Investigators found no gun in the Maserati.