Manhunt leads to arrest in Metro Police officer’s shooting

By Chris Kudialis, Pashtana Usufzy

Published Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015 | 12:14 p.m.

Updated Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015 | 7:14 p.m.

Metro Police say they have taken a suspect into custody in connection with the shooting of an officer responding to a domestic dispute at a south valley extended-stay motel today.

The officer, who suffered a "pretty substantial injury" in the armpit area, was taken to University Medical Center, Sheriff Joe Lombardo told members of the media tonight. The 21-year department veteran was in stable condition, awake and talking, officials said.

His wife and son were at the hospital, and he is expected to make a full recovery, Lombardo said.

Police reported just before 5 p.m. that they have a suspect in custody.

The shooting happened about 11:15 a.m. at Emerald Suites, 9145 Las Vegas Blvd. South, just south of Pebble Road, police said.

The suspect opened fire on the first responding officer, who was hit once in his bullet-resistant vest and once in the arm, police said. The officer returned fire, but it wasn't clear if the suspect was wounded, Lombardo said.

The suspect fled before a second officer arrived from another part of the property, police said. He was described as a light-skinned black man in his mid- to late 30s, bald and wearing all black.

Police are still investigating if another person was involved and helped the suspect escape the perimeter, Lombardo said.

He was not involved in the originally reported domestic dispute.

The assailant was sought by police, who cordoned off a wide area and searched parking lots, apartment hallways and a nearby vacant building. Streets in the area were closed, and they were reopened by about 5:15 p.m., according to the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

Police advised those who live in the area to stay indoors and for others to steer clear, but the suspect was able to escape the established perimeter and was taken into custody in Southern Highlands, Lombardo said.

The sheriff said he saw a man believed to be the suspect jump a fence into an area around abandoned buildings. Lombardo said he was leaving a luncheon at the South Point, and he and his partner went to the area after the incident was reported.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, came right in front of his vehicle and hopped a fence, Lombardo said.

The shooting was reminiscent of the February 2006 slaying of veteran police Sgt. Henry Prendes, who was ambushed by a man wielding an assault rifle as he responded to a domestic disturbance call at a southwest Las Vegas area home.

The assailant, Amir Rashid Crump, 21, was shot and killed by police after a standoff and a minutes-long gun battle.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.