Monday, May 20, 2013 | 3:15 p.m.
Metro Police identified Michael Donovan as the officer who shot a man brandishing a pellet gun last week during a call about a shooting in a central Las Vegas neighborhood.
Donovan, 30, has been employed with Metro since March 2008.
Donovan was placed on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a review of the incident.
The shooting took place about 1:30 a.m. Thursday as Metro officers responded to the 1800 block of East Charleston Boulevard to investigate reports of a person firing a weapon at a residence, officials said.
Donovan was the first officer to arrive and located Miguel Alejandro Martinez, 29, in an alley behind the residence, police said.
Donovan attempted to talk to Martinez, but as Martinez turned toward Donovan, he pulled what Donovan thought was a semi-automatic handgun from his waistband, police said.
Donovan fired several rounds, striking and wounding Martinez. He was taken to University Medical Center in critical condition.
Police said the preliminary investigation revealed the weapon Martinez pointed at Donovan was a pellet gun replica of a Colt .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Police said Martinez was suspected of being involved in a disturbance at the same location about seven hours prior to the shooting.
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