IN BRIEF

STABBING DEATH

LV man arrested in 25-year-old's slaying

Henderson police arrested a Las Vegas man Sunday night after a fatal stabbing at the Railroad Pass hotel.

Colbert Nichols, 58, was booked on murder charges in the slaying of a 25-year-old man in the hotel's parking lot, police said.

Nichols drove the victim and another man to the hotel on Boulder Highway near Boulder City after hiring them to do some work, police said. Nichols had rented the workers a room at the hotel.

An argument between Nichols and the victim started in the car and continued in the parking lot, police said. During the argument, Nichols retrieved a knife from his car and stabbed the victim about 8:20 p.m., police said.

The victim pushed Nichols away, jumped in Nichols' car and drove off with the other worker inside. They got lost looking for a hospital and stopped at a drug store on West Sunset Road for help.

Paramedics took the victim to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.

The Clark County coroner's office refused to release the name and hometown of the victim Monday and refused to say whether he had been positively identified.

SHOOTING AT HOME DEPOT

20-year-old wounded in exchange of gunfire

A Las Vegas police officer wounded a 20-year-old man in an exchange of gunfire early Monday in the southwest valley.

The shooting started about 12:30 a.m. in The Home Depot parking lot at the corner of Decatur Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue after the officer contacted Kerry Purnell as he walked through the area, police said.

The officer wanted to talk to Purnell because of a recent rash of crimes in the area, police said. When the officer approached him, Purnell ran and pulled out a gun, firing several shots at the officer, police said.

The officer returned fire, hitting Purnell in the right calf. Purnell kept running and was caught at the Emerald Suites hotel about a half-mile away, police said.

Purnell was taken to University Medical Center for treatment. Police booked him in absentia at the Clark County Detention Center on charges of attempted murder of a police officer, resisting arrest and carrying a concealed weapon.

The officer was placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

RECORD PRODUCER'S TRIAL

Spector jury asks to review videotapes

Phil Spector's jury deliberated Monday in Los Angeles with the help of a VCR to review videotape evidence in the record producer's trial on a charge of murdering actress Lana Clarkson.

There was no indication why the jury asked to have the VCR brought into deliberations, but during the evidence phase of the case the jury was shown videotape of sheriff's investigators interviewing Spector's chauffeur.

Driver Adriano De Souza was a key witness who testified that Spector came out of his mansion with a gun in his hand and stated "I think I killed somebody" as Clarkson's body sat slumped in a foyer chair behind him.

Spector, 67, is charged with second-degree murder. Clarkson, 40, died on Feb. 3, 2003, from a gunshot fired in her mouth.

The jury recessed talks for the night with no indication of a decision.