Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Officer, deceased man identified in Saturday police shooting

Authorities have released the names of a Metro Police officer and a man he fatally shot Saturday morning after a foot chase in North Las Vegas.

James Marcus Brown, 25, died Saturday from a gunshot wound to the chest, the Coroner’s Office said. His city of residence was not released.

The officer involved in the shooting was identified as 33-year-old Walter Young III, who has been with Metro since November 2006, police said.

Young has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a review of the shooting, police said.

According to a Metro news release, police responded about 3:15 a.m. to reports of a theft in the 5000 block of East Craig Road, near Nellis Boulevard.

A description of the suspect helped officers locate a vehicle on East Cheyenne Avenue, near the Interstate 15 overpass. Police arrested two people in the vehicle, but Brown, who was carrying a handgun, ran from the car, police said.

An officer chased Brown into the desert and ordered him to drop the gun, which he did not do, police said. The officer attempted to tase Brown, but the weapon was ineffective, police said.

The chase ended at the intersection of Losee Road and East Sharp Circle when Brown turned toward the officer with the gun in his hand, police said. The officer fired multiple rounds at Brown, officials said.

Brown was taken to University Medical Center, where he later died.

It was the ninth officer-involved shooting for Metro Police this year.