Metro Police investigate an officer-involved shooting in which a person was wounded in the 6700 block of Durango Drive on Tuesday July 18, 2017.
Published Tuesday, July 18, 2017 | 2:27 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, July 18, 2017 | 5:20 p.m.
A suspect who pulled out a gun on an officer during a foot chase through a northwest valley shopping center parking lot Tuesday afternoon suffered critical wounds when the officer shot him, according to Metro Police.
The man, who early this evening was undergoing surgery, suffered life-threatening wounds and was in unstable condition at University Medical Center, Metro Sgt. Jeff Clark said.
A 911 caller about 1:50 p.m. reported a man who appeared to be distraught and “making a commotion” next to a gold-colored vehicle at the parking lot in the 6700 block of Durango Drive, near Deer Springs Way, Clark said.
Before a lone officer arrived to the scene, police had determined that the vehicle had been reported stolen in Metro’s jurisdiction, Clark said.
The officer arrived and ordered the man to stand in front of his cruiser, but the man did not obey and took off running with the officer following, Clark said.
Sometime during the chase, the man reached toward his waistband with his right hand and pulled out a gun, Clark said. That’s when the officer fired multiple rounds.
The interaction occurred at the parking lot, but investigators are trying to determine if the man had gone into the shopping center businesses or if he had company at any time before the officer arrived, Clark said.
“Our officer took great care” that no bystanders were injured, Clark said, noting that the suspect, who was only described as a white man, had “multiple, multiple opportunities to comply."
Further details were expected Friday morning, when Metro is expected to show the footage from the officer’s body-worn camera, Clark said.
This is the 12th shooting this year involving a Metro officer.
