Henderson Police ID officers who fired in fatal shooting

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Thursday, June 10, 2010 | 10:47 a.m.

Henderson Police this morning released the names of five officers and a police sergeant who fired their weapons Monday night, fatally shooting a woman who they say drove toward them in a stolen car.

They were identified as Sgt. Christopher Delacanal, hired in 1996; Officer Juan Castro, hired in 2007; Officer James Dunn, hired in 2003; Officer Kevin Grant, hired in 2006; Officer Michael Schmitz, hired in 2004; and Officer Jeff Wiener, hired in 2002.

The six were placed on paid administrative leave during an investigation, which is standard procedure in cases of officer-involved shootings.

On Wednesday, the Clark County Coroner's Office identified the woman who was fatally shot as 39-year-old Kelly DuPriest. The coroner said she died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Henderson Police say the officers fatally shot DuPriest in the upscale MacDonald Highlands community after the woman and a man sped toward officers in reverse in a car stolen at gunpoint.

Police spokesman Keith Paul said officers caught up with the stolen vehicle at about 8:10 p.m. Monday after it got stuck on a gravel road at the end of MacDonald Ranch Drive. Police ordered the suspects to exit the car, but they refused, Paul said.

Authorities then negotiated with the man and woman for about 45 minutes, urging them to surrender and leave the car. Paul said the driver, identified as DuPriest, put the car into reverse and drove toward officers, prompting them to fire at the woman and man.

The man was hospitalized with injuries that weren't considered life-threatening, police said. He will face charges of armed robbery, burglary and auto theft, with other charges possible, police said.

The suspects are accused of committing a series of crimes in the MacDonald Highlands community, including abandoning another stolen car, breaking into a home and carjacking, police said.