Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Police: Armed man chasing father in downtown neighborhood is shot by officers

Police

Steve Marcus

A Metro Police crime scene analyst, right, works at an officer-involved shooting scene on 9th Street near Bonanza Road Tuesday, March 19, 2019, in Las Vegas.

Updated Tuesday, March 19, 2019 | 5:50 p.m.

An armed man who’d reportedly been chasing his father through a downtown Las Vegas neighborhood was shot by Metro Police officers when he pointed the gun at them, according to Capt. Kelly McMahill.

The Tuesday afternoon shooting — which left the suspect in critical condition — was the third involving Metro officers since Friday night.

At least four officers arrived at the neighborhood, located in the 500 block of 9th Street, near U.S. 95, at 2:47 p.m., four minutes after the man’s brother summoned them, McMahill said.

The 911 caller told an operator that his brother, who was armed, was chasing his father, McMahill said.

Very quickly, McMahill said, officers spotted a man who matched the description given to the operator and told him to drop his revolver.

He didn’t, she said.

Click to enlarge photo

Metro Police officers block off the area after an officer-involved shooting on 9th Street near Bonanza Road Tuesday, March 19, 2019, in Las Vegas.

McMahill said that an officer was heard over the radio saying that the suspect had pointed a gun at police before four officers opened fire.

It wasn’t clear if the suspect was able to fire off any shots.

The suspect was rushed to University Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition from at least one gunshot wound, McMahill said.

Details were preliminary and the investigation was ongoing, McMahill said.

On Friday night, Metro officers at the Bellagio fatally shot an armed suspect who’d just robbed a poker room. An officer opened fire when the man shot an officer whose bulletproof vest deflected the round.

On Saturday night, an armed man who police said reached for a gun during a robbery investigation in the south valley, was shot, Metro said. He was expected to survive.

The officer-involved shootings take a “toll” on Metro officers and their leadership, McMahill said.