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Couple Sues Casino Over Granddaughter Death

30 August 2002

LAS VEGAS – As reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "Two years after their granddaughter was fatally shot by a suspected thief struggling with guards in a Las Vegas Strip casino, the grandparents who had adopted her are suing the casino for damages.

"…[Henrietta] Vitarelli and her husband, William Vitarelli, 91, are seeking unspecified monetary damages from Harrah's hotel-casino, alleging negligence by resort security guards who they say botched the arrest of suspected coin thief Stephen Mullen, 34.

"According to trial witnesses and previous court proceedings, Mullen drew a gun and began shooting when two casino security officers confronted him and tried to handcuff him on Sept. 8, 2000.

"Heather Vitarelli, 29, was killed by a bullet to the back.

"…The Vitarellis'lawyer, Wayne Shaffer, said more Harrah's guards should have confronted Mullen and hustled him out of the crowded casino…"

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