Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/327270
ByMichelleRindels The Associated Press LAS VEGAS Investigators are looking into whether the husband and wife who shot and killed two Las Ve- gas police officers over the weekend had been at Cliven Bundy's Nevada ranch dur- ing a standoff earlier this year, police said Monday. Assistant Sheriff Kevin McMahill said the two sus- pects, Jerad Miller and his wife, Amanda, had ideology that was along the lines of "militia and white suprema- cists" and that law enforce- ment was the "oppressor." Police believe the shoot- ings were an isolated act and officers were still look- ing for a motive, McMahill said. Ammon Bundy, one of Cliven Bundy's sons, said by telephone that it is pos- sible the Millers were at the ranch, the scene of an armed standoff with federal agents, but that "we have not found anybody that recognizes them." He said thousands of people have come to his father's ranch over the past several months. The two officers were having lunch Sunday at a pizza buffet in a strip mall when the Millers fatally shot them at point-blank range. The attack at a CiCi's Pizza killed officers Alyn Beck, 41, and Igor Soldo, 31, who were both hus- bands and fathers. Jerad Miller yelled, "This is a rev- olution!" McMahill said. Both suspects fired mul- tiple shots into Beck. They then placed a note, a yel- low "Don't tread on me" flag and a swastika on the offi- cers' bodies, McMahill said at a news conference Mon- day. The deadly rampage in the aging shopping cen- ter about 5 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip un- folded in a matter of min- utes. The suspects then fled on foot to a nearby Wal-Mart, where Jerad Miller fired a single shot upon entering, police said. A patron at the store who carried a firearm confronted Jerad Miller, not realizing that he was accompanied by Amanda Miller, who shot and killed the man, police said. He was identified as 31-year-old Joseph Wilcox of Las Vegas. "Joseph died trying to protect others," Sheriff Doug Gillespie said. As terrified customers fled the store, the Millers went to the rear and hun- kered down for a firefight with police, McMahill said. Though they exchanged gunfire, ultimately, Amanda Miller shot and killed her husband, and then shot her- self, police said. Police were called at 11:22 a.m. to the pizzeria. Shots were reported five minutes later at the Wal-Mart. Bundy and his supporters, some of them armed militia members, thwarted a Bu- reau of Land Management roundup of his cattle near Bunkerville in April. The BLM says Bundy owes more than $1 million in grazing fees and penalties for tres- passing without a permit over 20 years, but he refuses to acknowledge federal au- thority on public lands. Ammon Bundy said his family "has had no quar- rel" with Las Vegas police and disavowed the Millers' actions. "The only thing worse than tyranny is anarchy, and we certainly recognize that," Bundy said. The Millers moved to the Las Vegas area in January, police said. Amanda Miller had worked at a Hobby Lobby craft store in Las Ve- gas, the chain store said in a written statement, but was no longer employed there. Jerad Miller, 31, was con- victed of felony vehicle theft in Washington state, police said. He also had a criminal record in Indiana. Miller and his 22-year- old wife were married in August 2012, according to a marriage license on file in Indiana. NEVADA Po li ce p ro be t ie s be tw ee n Ve ga s sh oo te rs , Bu nd y JOHNLOCHER—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Pictures of suspects Jerad Miller and Amanda Miller are on display during a news conference on Monday in Las Vegas. By Steve Peoples The Associated Press NASHVILLE, TENN. Chris Christie is plunging into what amounts to a cross- country revival tour, look- ing to recover from a clumsy political scandal and reclaim his place as a promising Republican pres- idential prospect. In one recent week, it was on-the-ground politics in Tennessee and New Mex- ico. This week, after a cam- paign stop in Pennsylvania, the New Jersey governor re- turns to the late night com- edy circuit with an appear- ance on NBC's "Tonight Show." Then he'll stop by Mitt Romney's Utah sum- mit, a private event for do- nors and GOP establishment leaders, and the week after that he heads to Washing- ton to court Christian con- servatives at a national gath- ering of the Faith and Free- dom Coalition. All the while, he's rais- ing a record-setting amount of money for other Repub- licans, and bolstering his political network in all the right places — Iowa and New Hampshire, in particular. "As the president's record continues to get worse, as the Democratic Party brand continues to get worse across the country, this momen- tum's going to build," Chris- tie said recently. "I've been looking forward to this year for quite some time." Despite his optimism, this isn't where Christie ex- pected to be at this point on the road to 2016. His stock plummeted early this year after it was discovered that members of his staff and political allies intentionally snarled traffic from New Jersey into Manhattan, ap- parently to punish a politi- cal rival. On Monday, Christie's chief of staff testified about the political-retribution plot before a state legisla- tive committee, another re- minder of the ongoing chal- lenges the governor faces while intensifying his na- tional outreach. Recent polls suggest that Chris- tie's once-impressive coali- tion of supporters — includ- ing independents, women, Hispanics and even some Democrats — has more or less disappeared nationally. "He's a great man, but I'm not sure he can overcome it," said Susan Brubaker, a Tennessee Republican who attended Christie's recent appearance there. Christie's aides note the first votes of the 2016 cam- paign won't be cast for more than a year. They ar- gue he's already weathered the worst of a scandal that triggered widespread con- cern among key members of the Republican Party, in- cluding major donors and leaders eager for the party to regain the White House. In the meantime, Chris- tie is charging forward with renewed vigor and raising money at a breakneck pace. Like other prospects, he hasn't declared he's run- ning, though he did ac- knowledge Monday that it's "something that I'm thinking about." He said he wouldn't make up his mind until early 2015. Monday evening, Christie was headlining a fundraiser for Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, an appearance tied to Christie's role as chair- man of the Republican Gov- ernors Association, a one- year position he assumed last November. POLITICS Christie goes back to building 2016 coalition TERRY WYATT — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks in Nashville, Tenn., on May 30. By David Porter The Associated Press NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. The truck driver from Geor- gia accused of triggering the highway crash that in- jured Tracy Morgan and killed another comedian hadn't slept for more than 24 hours before the acci- dent, authorities said Mon- day as the actor recovered in a New Jersey hospital. Wal-Mart truck driver Kevin Roper was origi- nally expected to make an initial appearance in state court Monday, but a court official said the Jonesboro, Georgia, resident is sched- uled in court on Wednes- day. It wasn't clear Mon- day if Roper had retained an attorney. He remained free after posting $50,000 bond. Authorities said the 35-year-old Roper appar- ently failed to slow for traf- fic ahead early Saturday in Cranbury Township and swerved at the last minute to avoid a crash. Instead, his big rig smashed into the back of Morgan's chauf- feured Mercedes limo bus, killing comedian James "Jimmy Mack" McNair, au- thorities said. The 45-year-old Mor- gan, a former "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock" cast member, remained in critical condition Mon- day. Morgan's spokesman, Lewis Kay, said he was "more responsive" Sunday after having surgery for a broken leg. Kay said Morgan suf- fered a broken femur, a broken nose and several broken ribs and is ex- pected to remain hospi- talized for several weeks. He said Morgan's fam- ily is "tremendously over- whelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans." Roper has been charged with death by auto and four counts of assault by auto. Under New Jersey law, to prove both crimes the state has to demon- strate the defendant oper- ated the vehicle recklessly when the injuries or death were caused. According to the crimi- nal complaint, Roper was operating the truck "with- out having slept for a pe- riod in excess of 24 hours resulting in a motor ve- hicle accident." It doesn't specify the basis for that assertion. Tyrone Gale, who was driving the limo bus, told ABC News that he was dis- oriented after the vehicle flipped over and could hear Morgan yelling for help. "I climbed around and heard Tracy screaming for help," Gale said. "I climbed up on the body of the limo bus ... but I couldn't reach them." Wal-Mart President Bill Simon said in a statement that the company "will take full responsibility" if authorities determine its truck caused the accident. The National Trans- portation Safety Board is working with state police to look at any issues in the crash related to commer- cial trucking and limou- sine safety. Federal regulations per- mit truck drivers to work up to 14 hours a day, with a maximum of 11 hours be- hind the wheel. The other time is usually devoted to loading and unload- ing and paperwork. They must have a minimum of 10 hours off between work shifts to sleep. Drivers can work a maximum of 60 or 70 hours per week, de- pending upon the type of company they work for. Safety advocates said they hope the accident in New Jersey will help their case. But Dave Osiecki, vice president of the American Trucking Association, said no regulations can prevent a driver from making "bad choices." Morgan, a New York City native, was return- ing from a standup per- formance at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Dela- ware when the crash oc- curred. In all, six vehi- cles were involved in the pileup, but no one from the other cars was injured. ACCIDENT Prosecutor: Trucker in crash hadn't slept By Todd Richmond The Associated Press MADISON, WIS. Gay cou- plesacrossWisconsinrushed to secure marriage licenses Monday, hoping to win le- gal recognition of their re- lationships ahead of an ex- pected hold on a ruling that thestate'ssame-sexmarriage ban is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Bar- bara Crabb in Madison struck down the ban Fri- day in an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit challenging the prohibi- tion. But she didn't order county clerks to begin is- suing licenses or block them from handing them out. She said she wants the ACLU to draft an order for her spelling out how the organization wants her de- cision implemented. Herstancehasleftcounty clerkstodecideontheirown whether they can legally is- suelicensestosame-sexcou- ples. Clerks in Milwaukee and Madison began issuing licenses to same-sex couples within hours of the ruling. Togetherthecountiesissued 238 licenses on Friday and Saturday. According to the ACLU, atleast20 ofWiscon- sin's 72 counties were issu- inglicensesasofMondayaf- ternoon. Dozens of couples were initially refused licenses in Appleton, Green Bay and elsewhere on Mon- day while county clerks in those communities sought advice from the Wisconsin Vital Records Office. 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