Lombardo on recent Metro shootings: ‘I believe that society is becoming more violent’

By Ric Anderson, Megan Messerly

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015 | 11:35 a.m.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said a general increase in violence, not anti-police furor over racially-charged misconduct over incidents in Ferguson, Mo., and other communities, was behind a recent rash of attacks on Metro Police officers.

"Is this a war on cops? My response is no, I don't believe so. I think it's a war on society. I believe that society is becoming more violent," Lombardo said during a news conference regarding two shootings of Metro officers in the past week.

"I don't want the community of Las Vegas to think we're in the middle of a war here," he said.

That said, Lombardo responded to a question about whether officers here were the victims of copycat crimes by saying, "I would use that narrative."

"I would say police are the focus of these types of crimes," he said.

Lombardo's comments came as he and other authorities offered new details about the shootings of officers Thomas Clevenger and Jeremy Robertson in incidents on Sunday and Friday, respectively.

Clevenger was struck in the hand Sunday by a .45-caliber bullet fired into his patrol car at Nellis Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue. Assistant Sheriff Kirk Primas said Clevenger and fellow officer Sergio Orizabal had stopped at the intersection while responding to a disturbance call when a juvenile armed with a Springfield Armory pistol that had been reported stolen in 2011 fired three rounds at the vehicle. One went through the door and struck Clevenger. Orizabal took cover at the back of the vehicle before subduing and arresting the juvenile after a short foot chase.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said he was planning to file an adult criminal charge of attempted murder against the suspect.

In the shooting of Robertson, who was hit in the upper leg by a bullet from a modified SKS semi-automatic carbine rifle while responding to a report of a prowler, Wolfson said charges had been filed against Clemon Hudson, 20, and Steven Turner, 24, who were arrested in connection with the incident. The two were arraigned this morning on counts that included attempted murder, battery with use of a deadly weapon, attempted burglary in possession of a firearm and firing a weapon into an occupied dwelling. A bond hearing for Hudson and Turner is set for Friday, he said.

Police said Robertson was responding to a report of a prowler at a residence in the 6700 block of Oveja Circle in the central valley when he was shot. The bullet caused extensive injuries that required titanium rods, screws and plates to be inserted into Robertson's leg.

Police allege that Turner fired the shot that hit Robertson, while Hudson was armed with a .12-gauge shotgun. The suspects fired four shots, while police who responded to the call with Robertson, including officer Malik Grego-Smith, fired 12. Hudson was arrested at the scene after being bitten several times by a police dog, while Turner was apprehended near the scene.

"When this round makes contact with the body, it explodes," Wolfson said of the bullet that hit Robertson. "It causes extreme damage. I commit all the resources of the District Attorney's Office to prosecute and punish these offenders. I'm committing some of my best lawyers to prosecute these individuals."

Lombardo said four Metro officers had been shot on duty since July 10.

"Each one of these officers has a family, and their family is concerned for them," Lombardo said. "I appreciate and applaud their professionalism and their ability to come to work on a daily basis."