By Lawrence Mower and Adrienne Packer
Las Vegas Review-Journal
LAS VEGAS — Prentice Marshall was the triggerman, Adrian Pena drove the getaway car, and Las Vegas police officer Trevor Nettleton was the unfortunate victim who opened his garage door just as the two were headed down his street early Thursday, according to the suspects’ arrest reports.
The North Las Vegas police reports, which were released Monday, provided general details about the fatal shooting but did not specify what led to it. Police said the shooting was a botched robbery attempt.
North Las Vegas police have named five suspects in Nettleton’s slaying: Saul Williams Jr., 20; Emmitt Ferguson, 18; Qaudrae Scott, 18; Marshall, 18; and Pena, 17.
Marshall, Pena, Williams and Scott were in Pena’s car and were going to Williams’ house when they saw Nettleton’s garage door open, the arrest reports said Williams told police. Nettleton, a patrol officer who had just finished his shift, was inside.
A gunbattle between Nettleton and the suspects ensued. Marshall was shot in the testicles, according to the reports. Nettleton was shot and killed.
Three of the suspects -- Williams, Ferguson and Marshall -- live in the same house in the same North Las Vegas subdivision as Nettleton, according to the reports.
All of the suspects except for Ferguson face charges of murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery for their involvements in the shooting.
During their first court appearance, on Monday, Williams, Marshall and Pena presented a stoic front to Justice of the Peace Chris Lee. He asked if they understood the charges that had been entered against them.
“Yes, sir,” each responded in turn.
Bail was denied for all three men. They are scheduled to appear in court again Monday.
Ferguson is facing a charge of first-degree murder. He was not at the crime scene but did hide the murder weapon, his arrest report states.
Williams, Ferguson’s stepbrother, called Ferguson from the North Las Vegas Detention Center. Williams told him to “take the ‘H’ (heat) from the ‘B’ (bathroom) and put it in the ‘A’ (attic),” the report states.
Police searched the house on Cliffbrook Hedge Avenue, near Bruce Street and Lone Mountain Road, and found firearms hidden in the attic. Ferguson admitted to police that he told Williams that the gun was safe “and that nobody would find it.” He also said he would trade the gun at a later date when things “cooled off,” according to his arrest report.
North Las Vegas police said Sunday that they believed they had found the weapon used in the crime and were waiting for ballistics confirmation.
Nettleton’s death -- one of four the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has experienced this year -- has shaken the department and the community. On Monday, officers and community members gathered for a candlelight vigil at the department’s Bolden Area Command, where Nettleton worked.
One of those in attendance was a teary, middle-aged woman clutching a small white candle. A tiny brass police badge adorned with a black band was pinned to her jacket.
She was outraged.
“This could happen to any of our sons,” the woman said, referring to the parents of those in law enforcement. “I am outraged this is happening to police officers.”
The woman, who declined to be named, has a son who is a Las Vegas police sergeant. She said she felt sorry for Nettleton’s family.
“This is scary for the whole community. Everybody should be outraged and demand the death penalty,” she said. “It’s tragic enough to have the car accidents, but to someone to come out and kill him ...”
On a stage in front of the Stella Lake Street command center, near Lake Mead and Martin Luther King boulevards, preachers and pastors led people in prayers and song. Uniformed police officers from Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson gathered around with family members.
“We’re here because of all the violence; we need to put a stop to the violence,” said Pastor Reggie Bryant of Living Faith Assembly.
Susan Neely closed her eyes tightly and swayed back and forth to the live music.
“I came to celebrate these men who gave their lives to our community,” Neely said of Nettleton and Las Vegas corrections officer Daniel Leach, who was killed in a Saturday morning crash on U.S. Highway 95. “For everyone to be gathered like this is wonderful.”
Annette Fuentes made the trip to Las Vegas from Pahrump.
“This is tragic beyond tragic,” Fuentes said. “We came to show the officers we appreciate what they do; they go out and fight crime and protect our freedom.”
Williams initially told police that he and Marshall had been the victims of a robbery in which Marshall had been shot. Marshall later told police he shot Nettleton and he and Williams then ran away, according to the arrest reports.
During their investigation, police determined Pena was the owner of the vehicle used in the crime. Officers contacted Pena’s mother, who said that she knew about the shooting and that her son had told her he was with the suspect when it happened, according to Pena’s arrest report.
Police arrested Pena at the Lucky Club Casino where he works in North Las Vegas. A co-worker of Pena told investigators that he overheard Pena say he did “something bad with his friends,” Pena’s report states.
When the co-worker asked if Pena was involved in the death of the officer, Pena nodded his head and said, “Maybe.”
Copyright 2009 Las Vegas Review-Journal