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March 19, 2024

Man killed in shootout after ambushing Henderson Police officer

Henderson Officer-Involved Shooting

Steve Marcus

Henderson Police investigate an officer-involved shooting near Boulder Highway and College Drive in Henderson, Aug. 20, 2013.

Updated Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013 | 2:10 p.m.

Henderson Officer-Involved Shooting at Boulder Highway and College

A crime scene analyst looks over a scene as Henderson Police investigate an officer-involved shooting near Boulder Highway and College Drive in Henderson, Aug. 20, 2013.  Launch slideshow »

Area of shooting

A 63-year-old man armed with three handguns was killed in a shootout with Henderson Police this morning after opening fire on an officer in what authorities described as an ambush.

Police spokesman Keith Paul said the incident unfolded about 8 a.m. near Boulder Highway and College Drive, where an officer was blocking traffic after a pedestrian was struck and killed nearby at Boulder Highway and Horizon Drive.

The officer, who was in her vehicle, thought she heard fireworks, but when she looked to her left, she saw a man firing a handgun at her, Paul said. A shot shattered her rear driver’s side window.

The officer started driving away and radioed, “Shots fired!”

Two nearby patrol cars immediately headed in her direction and encountered the suspect walking across Boulder Highway. The suspect spotted the patrol cars and began firing, hitting one vehicle, police said.

Three officers returned fire, Paul said. The man was struck and taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he later died.

No officers were injured, Paul said.

Police believe the suspect, who has not been identified, rode and parked a motorcycle across from the first officer on Boulder Highway. Detectives recovered a rifle from a side bag on the motorcycle, in addition to the three handguns found on the man, Paul said.

Police had no explanation for why the man began shooting.

“It’s extremely unusual and extremely dangerous,” Paul said. “We’re lucky no officers were injured.”

The incident was the first officer-involved shooting this year in Henderson.

The department plans to release the names of the officers involved within 48 hours. They were placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation, per department policy.

Police closed a stretch of Boulder Highway while the investigation continued.

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