Police, parents and teachers needed to combat school violence

Wednesday, April 16th, 2014, 6:07pm

LAS VEGAS -- School violence is an epidemic that won't quit.

Earlier this month, a student from O'Callaghan Middle School was taken to the hospital after a fight in the lunchroom.

O'Callaghan is near two other schools with some of the highest number of suspensions, expulsions and violence to students.

Harney, O'Callaghan and Bailey middle schools are within a five mile radius of each other, and according to the Department of Education, they happen to have a problem with violence.

"There is a lot of different ones. There are gangs. There are a bunch of people that do drugs and all that," 13-year-old middle school student Tyler Hamman said.

Tyler was recently kicked out of school. His mom Brenda Wilson says it was because of drug paraphernalia.

"He brought a weed pipe to school, and he was expelled and had to go to continuation school," Wilson said.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Submitted by 8 News NOW

Monday, April 14th, 2014, 11:25am

LAS VEGAS - Fire investigators are looking into what caused a fire at a building in the northwest part of the Las Vegas valley.

It happened just after 5:00 a.m. Sunday, near the intersection of Lamb Boulevard and Alexander Road.

Upon arrival, crews reported heavy flames and smoke coming from the roof of the Frazier Masonry Corporation at 4460 Riviera Ridge Ave.

A second alarm was activated soon after crews arrived, resulting in more crews from the Clark County Fire, North Las Vegas Fire, and Las Vegas Fire and Rescue to respond.

It took about 40 minutes to get the fire under control.

The warehouse section of the business sustained heavy damage, but much of the office area was salvaged, according to the Clark County Fire Department.

The initial loss is estimated at $500,000, but that number could change once the investigation is completed.

No injuries were reported.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Submitted by 8 News NOW

Thursday, April 10th, 2014, 9:36am

LAS VEGAS -- Metro Police are investigating a hit-and-run crash that occurred Wednesday night.

The accident happened shortly after 8 p.m. near Las Vegas Boulevard North and Walnut Road. Police say a pedestrian was jaywalking across Las Vegas Boulevard, when a Ford Explorer struck him.

Emergency crews transported the man to University Medical Center, where doctors treated him for critical injuries.

The truck left the scene of the accident. Police describe the vehicle as a 2006 or 2007 white Ford Explorer with potential damage on its right front end and undercarriage.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Submitted by Natalie Cullen, Online Editor

Wednesday, April 9th, 2014, 12:52pm

WASHINGTON (AP) -- About the only thing former President Ronald Reagan doesn't have named after him is a mountain, not one recognized by the federal government anyway.

Now, Republican Rep. Joe Heck of Nevada is pushing a bill that would name a part of Frenchman Mountain, located just east of Las Vegas, after the nation's 40th president.

The House Natural Resources Committee approved Heck's bill by voice vote Wednesday, but not before some Democrats had fun with the issue.

One suggested that Yucca Mountain, site of a proposed nuclear waste depository, be named after Reagan. Another suggested the whole planet.

The bill is likely to pass the House but stall in the Senate. A spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he has higher priority land bills for Nevada.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Submitted by 8 News NOW

Tuesday, April 8th, 2014, 3:30pm

LAS VEGAS -- Clark County School District Police say a 13-year-old girl who is hospitalized from a school fight last week suffered injuries as a result of a medical "emergency."

CCSD Police held a news conference Tuesday morning to discuss the fight at O'Callaghan Middle School last Wednesday between two seventh grade girls. The incident happened during lunch hour in the school's quad area. While there are security cameras on the campus, the area where the fight occurred is out of camera range.

Police describe the two girls as "mutual combatants" who both took part in the fight.

"The two female students had an ongoing strained relationship for lack of a better term," said Capt. Ken Young, CCSD Police Department.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Submitted by 8 News NOW

Monday, April 7th, 2014, 12:54pm

LAS VEGAS -- The Clark County Coroner's officer has identified the man shot to death Saturday night as 25-year-old Eric Rodriguez Ruis.

Metro Police say he was shot around 8:30 p.m. in the 6900 block of Appleton, near Carey and Hollywood. When police arrived, they found Ruis with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to detectives, the preliminary investigation shows there was an argument between several people in the area where the victim was found.

Police say they do not yet have a motive or suspect in the investigation.

Police are urging anyone who may know something about the crime to call Crimestoppers at (702) 385-5555.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Submitted by 8 News NOW

Friday, April 4th, 2014, 11:05pm

LAS VEGAS -- It has been a tough week for parents and students at O'Callaghan Middle School.

One student is still in the hospital after a fight Wednesday, and parents and students want answers about what happened and who is being held accountable.

8 News NOW has learned that the District Attorney's Office is not involved in any investigation into this fight at this time.

The head of the Juvenile Division says Clark County School District Police and Metro Police have not referred this case to the DA's office at this point.

Chasity Parker attends O'Callaghan Middle School. She says she was talking with victim in the lunchroom just before the fight.

View Comments | Post a Comment