Coroner: Metro officer committed suicide; gunshot to head killed wife, child

By John Taylor (contact)

Published Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013 | 3:18 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013 | 4:35 p.m.

A Metro Police officer apparently shot and killed his 46-year-old wife and 5-year-old child on Monday, then committed suicide by shooting himself.

The Clark County Coroner’s Office announced Tuesday afternoon that Kathryn Michelle Walters and Maximilian Walters each died from a gunshot wound to the head. The coroner said the manner of their deaths was homicide. Hans Pieter Walters, 52, also died from a gunshot wound to the head, and the coroner listed his cause of death as suicide.

The tragedy occurred Monday morning at the Walters’ Boulder City home when a man – thought to have been Hans Walters – called 911, confessed that he had shot his wife and child and said he planned to shoot himself, too. The caller also warned the emergency dispatchers he would shoot any police officer sent to try to stop him.

Henderson Police spokesman Keith Paul said Boulder City Police officers arrived within moments of the 911 call to a burning house in the 1300 block of Esther Drive. There, a man armed with a handgun stepped outside the front door of the house. He ignored officers' commands to put down the gun and re-entered the burning home. Shortly afterwards, Paul said, police believe he shot himself.

Hans Walters was a 20-plus-year veteran with Metro Police and was a lieutenant at the time of his death. He had been with Metro since September 1991. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in January 1998 and to the lieutenant in January 2010. He was assigned to the Patrol Division, Enterprise Area Command.

Kathryn Michelle Walters was employed by Metro from January 1991 until August 2004. She was assigned to the Patrol Division before voluntarily leaving the agency.

In a news conference Monday, Sheriff Doug Gillespie wouldn’t confirm Hans Walters’ death, but said he was a member of Metro Police.

“Anyone who has been involved in law enforcement for any amount of time is usually prepared for any scenario,” Gillespie said. “No one, however, can prepare for something like this.”

Investigation into the case continues and is being led by Henderson Police.