One of three suspects in thrill killings arrested

      One of three men who Las Vegas authorities claim participated in a series of thrill kills was taken into custody this week.
      Edward James, 23, of Las Vegas was arrested early this week at an undisclosed Las Vegas residence after police received an anonymous tip concerning his whereabouts, police Sgt. Ken Hefner said. James was charged with three counts of murder, attempted murder and battery.
      Police are still seeking Tony Amati, 22, of Las Vegas, in connection with three fatal shootings that took place in southeast Las Vegas over a four-month span in 1996.
      A third suspect, Troy Sampson, 28, is serving time on related robbery charges. Amati and Sampson face the same charges as James.
      The killings started in May 1996 when Michael Matta, 27, was shot to death in the parking lot of the Parkway Villas condominium complex near Maryland Parkway and Hacienda Avenue.
      A month later Modesto Johnny Garcia, 48, was shot to death in his garage.
      Keith Dyer, 22, was the last victim in the series of attacks. He was fatally shot as he walked a female acquaintance home near Maryland and Tropicana Avenue.
      The major break in the case came in October 1996 when Sampson, with Amati and James acting as lookouts, sold stolen guns from a Las Vegas business to an undercover officer, according to police records.
      Ballistic tests conducted on weapons confiscated during the police investigation eventually linked the slayings. The three were each indicted in November 1997.
      Hefner said Amati will be featured on the national television show "America's Most Wanted" in the coming weeks. Amati has ties to the Illinois area.
      Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call police at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.