2 North Las Vegas officers shot in hostage standoff; suspect killed

By Pashtana Usufzy

Published Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 | 7 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 | 10:52 p.m.

Two North Las Vegas Police officers were injured and a suspect was killed in an officer-involved shooting following a standoff at a house near Canyon Springs High School, police said.

North Las Vegas Police responded about 5:10 p.m. to a report of a subject with a gun in a domestic disturbance-type incident in the 100 block of Spur Ranch Avenue, near Alexander Road and Commerce Street, Officer Aaron Patty said.

The incident turned into a barricade and hostage situation involving multiple people including children, he said.

Six people were in the home including three children ages 6 months, 2 years and 6 years old, Patty said.

SWAT responded to the scene, and at some point, the suspect came out of the residence with a shotgun visible to officers, Patty said.

The adult male suspect and police exchanged gunfire, and two SWAT officers were struck, he said.

The officers suffered nonlife-threatening injuries and were transported to University Medical Center, Patty said. They have since been discharged.

The suspect, who was also shot, was pronounced dead at the scene, Patty said.

No other injuries were reported, he said.

Police were able to get all occupants out of the home, Patty said.

Nearby residents were evacuated, and some families gathered at the high school, which was also a temporary North Las Vegas Police command post, as they waited for police to let them back into the neighborhood.

Tywun Sam, whose sister lives close to the suspect's home, said he knew the suspect as a quiet man who never caused any trouble for neighbors and helped him fix his car.

"To me, he was a cool dude," Sam said. "He always wanted to help. If he could help you out, he would."

The suspect's name has not yet been released by police.

This is the second North Las Vegas Police officer-involved shooting this year.