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Two plead guilty in July stabbing death on Strip
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Two men pleaded guilty Wednesday to manslaughter charges for their roles in a July stabbing death on the Strip.
Jerome Hopkins and Christopher Mcintosh previously faced murder charges in the slaying of 25-year-old Randall "BP" Blackwell.
Blackwell was stabbed in the heart July 9 up the block from Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon, near Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road. His death a week later brought the number of summertime homicides on the Strip to four.
Hopkins, 38, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon. He remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center.
Mcintosh, 39, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was released on house arrest.
District Judge Jessie Walsh is scheduled to sentence both defendants April 11.
Authorities said a fight erupted before the stabbing. An officer was flagged down and witnessed the fight.
The officer was able to call for backup and then arrest Hopkins and Mcintosh but not before Blackwell and another man were stabbed. The other man's injury was not life-threatening.
A knife was recovered from the roof of Battista's Hole in the Wall Italian restaurant after a witness told police he saw Mcintosh throw a knife there.
Hopkins told police he was being assaulted by five men when Mcintosh interceded, but witnesses said Hopkins was "punching" Blackwell in the chest when others tried to break it up.
Blackwell's friends flagged down a patrol cruiser after they realized he had been stabbed.
According to court records, Hopkins and Mcintosh have criminal histories that include several felony convictions over the past two decades.
Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.
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So this officer just watches as two men are stabbed, one fatally, Let's remember this the next time some copologist or submitizen tries to sell us the lie that Metro's finest are willing to put their lives on the line to protect the innocent.. While I don't expect them to risk their lives, their not soldiers after all, I'm tired of them self-aggrandizing that they do Heroes they are not. Street sweepers is more like it.
Should say throw away the KEY. But once again instead of MURDER charges the DA makes another plea deal with ANOTHER THUG. I guess the DA gets paid either way. That should be considered a CRIME and the DA do time...
I would like to know exactly what felonies these two committed over the last two decades, what sentences they were given and how much time was served. At what point will the courts say enough is enough, you don't belong in a civilized society so you are going away for life ? How many chances did these two get ?
I hear Clark County used to called that eight miles out, six feet deep, Robert. It would be interesting to see how 'acyclic' laws might turn out. Instead of reinforcing destructive forces, maybe it would be better to actually have a go at eliminating problems our justice system only compounds (minus the murder). Anarchists destroy lives. Employers, legislatures and our idea of criminal justice seems to do the same, almost as well, unfortunately. I can't see all convicts being all bad apples, just based on the sheer volume of people behind bars. However, those prone to violence are such a high risk, to me, exile sure doesn't seem that inappropriate. The idea isn't to cater or pander to law breakers, rather, it is to correct and let bygones be bygones, for those that really do move on. The problem is that our idea of stone cold punishment, which reaches far beyond the court for the convict [by effect, society] contradicts our desires, especially when convicts know Equal Protection is a misnomer.
Very long term jail sentences and banishment from Clark County seems to be needed to be meted out to these two cowardly thugs. Ok, a whipping as well with chains to remind them of the pain they caused another family.
More Las Vegas dirt bag debauchery.
Where are the pics so we can show our children what not to do with their lives?