A Metro crime scene investigator takes measurements at the scene of an officer-involved shooting Tuesday, April 12, 2011. A Metro officer shot and killed a suicidal man who pointed a gun at police while in his garage.
Published Thursday, April 14, 2011 | 11:05 a.m.
Updated Thursday, April 14, 2011 | 5:26 p.m.
Metro Police said 37-year-old Officer Gregory Watkins fired shots Tuesday that fatally wounded an armed, suicidal man in the northwest valley.
Watkins, who has been with the department since July 1998, works for the patrol division in the Northwest Area Command.
The Clark County Coroner's Office identified the man killed as Abdul Hamlan.
Hamlan, 52, was shot in the garage of his home, in the 3900 block of Grand Meadow Drive, after police say he pointed a handgun at officers who were dispatched to the house on reports that Hamlan was threatening suicide.
At 11:33 a.m., officers arrived and stood at the edge of the open garage door while Hamlan was lying on the floor of the garage, Capt. Patrick Neville said. Police noticed the man was armed with a small semi-automatic handgun, prompting officers to demand that he put the gun down. Neville said the man began to point the gun toward police, then one officer fired several times, striking the man.
Hamlan was taken to a hospital, where he later died. The coroner said Hamlan died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Police are investigating whether the man pointed the gun at officers, hoping they would fire at him — a "suicide by cop" scenario, Neville said.
Watkins was placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure in cases of officer-involved shootings.
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