Shooting victim’s neighbor recalls fight

A disagreement between friends set in motion events that ended with a man being shot and killed by police as he came to the door of his Las Vegas home.

Charles Walthers was shot three times by a police officer Saturday when he opened his front door with a gun in hand.

The two officers involved in the shooting were responding to several complaints that followed a shouting match in the street of the East Cheyenne Avenue trailer park.

Patty Simmons, 23, called the police after she received a visit from Walthers and Wendy Crabtree, who worked at Walthers’ plumbing company.

"Chuck said I was going to pay for what I did to Wendy and her four kids. I said `Chuck, I’m not scared of you’ and he said `You’d better be, I’m your worst nightmare,"’ Simmons said Wednesday.

Simmons said Crabtree has been her best friend for 2 1/2 years, but she had not seen her for several weeks.

She said Crabtree owed her $130 for baby-sitting her four children, but when she saw Walthers’ van pull in front of her house she was just happy to see her.

Simmons said Crabtree accused her of turning her into the welfare department. Soon afterward, Walthers joined in and a loud quarrel ensued.

After calling the police about the incident, Simmons said she was on hold when two officers arrived. They told her three of her neighbors had reported the disturbance.

She gave the officers a few details about the incident and told them she didn’t want to cause problems. She just wanted the threats to cease.

About 10 minutes later police called Simmons and told her an officer was on his way to pick her up. She didn’t know Walthers had been killed until that time.

"I lost it because I thought it was my fault," Simmons said. "Then when he drove me to Walthers’ home this man told me, `Don’t feel bad. From what I understand, that gun was meant for you."’

Crabtree, 29, said she has been advised by her attorney and the FBI not to comment to the media until after the coroner’s inquest.

Meanwhile, Walthers’ mother, Dorothy Willis, is planning her son’s funeral, which will be Saturday in Bullhead City, Ariz. Willis, 65, said her husband died less than two months ago.

Willis said she has heard three different stories since the shooting and is looking ahead to the coroner’s inquest, which is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 15.

"I’m hoping that the truth will come out but I don’t know if it will."

About the only thing known for sure is Walthers was a loving father, devoted to his child.

Four-year-old Charles Jr. had been raised by his father since the boy was 3 months old. The child is now living with his mother.

Lee Malkiewicz, office manager for Walthers’ Valley Rooter plumbing business, said his every moment was for his son.

"He’d walk six to eight miles a day, delivering brochures to make the business a success. He’d say, he was doing it all for his son," Malkiewicz said.

"He’d tell him, `Your dad is just a plumber but I want more for you and I’m going to make sure you have it,"’ she said. "Chuckie would just laugh. His dad always talked to him like he was an adult."

Malkiewicz said Walthers, 44, ran the business out of his 4800 E. Cheyenne Ave. trailer home as if it were a close-knit family. Today, flower bouquets line the way to the front door of the trailer.

The seven employees of the plumbing company are wondering what will happen to their jobs. Malkiewicz said they’re looking forward to getting some answers at the coroner’s inquest.

The inquest is held to determine whether the shooting was justified and is expected to focus on the first shot fired at Walthers rather than the following four.

Officers Gary W. Casper, 28, and Cindy Rodriguez, 25, arrived at Walthers’ home about 1 p.m. Saturday in response to a woman’s complaint of being threatened by him.

Deputy Chief John Sullivan said the officers did not identify themselves because they weren’t asked who was at the door.

"The occupant jerked the door open and he was standing there pointing a gun at the officers," he said.

Sullivan said Casper knocked on the door while Rodriguez stood at the bottom of the front steps. Three shots fired by Casper struck Walthers in the chest. Two shots fired by Rodriguez missed Walthers, who did not fire his gun.

Police have not said which officer fired the first shot.