Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022 | 5:18 p.m.
A suspect who was killed in an officer-involved shooting Monday died from multiple gunshot wounds to his arm, leg and torso, according to North Las Vegas Police.
Officer Anthony Malear, 29, has been identified in the shooting that resulted in the death of a suspect who allegedly pointed his gun at multiple people in the area of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Carey Avenue.
The suspect, 44-year-old Christopher Earl Smith, was first reported to police about 5:05 p.m. Monday when he allegedly pulled a gun on a man at a Martin Luther King Jr. statue, Capt. Adam Hyde said in a briefing Thursday. Police dispatched to the area did not initially locate the suspect or the victim, who had made the call and then hung up abruptly.
The victim called police again about 5:35 p.m., saying he had hung up for fear of being shot, and that Smith was now across the street at a car wash and pointing his gun at others.
Police received another call about 5:40 p.m., this time from an employee at the nearby Carey Mini Market, who stated that the suspect had pulled a gun on customers in the store and was now crossing Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Both callers gave police a description of Smith, notably that he was wearing a “Halloween” mask. The mask, which Hyde said police have collected as evidence, resembles the film character Michael Myers.
Surveillance video showed Smith walking across the street, and heading toward the park at the North Las Vegas Justice Center, where Malear arrived on the scene and made contact with him.
Malear identified himself as police and repeatedly asked Smith to stop and put his hands up, Hyde said.
“Smith ignored the officer’s commands and pulled a firearm from his waistband with numerous bystanders in the immediate vicinity,” Hyde said.
Malear fired his weapon eight times, Hyde said.
Bodycam footage showed Malear heading toward the park and pointing his gun at Smith. He identified himself as police and told Smith to stop and put his hands up. Smith pulled out his gun while running toward bystanders, at which point Malear shot at him multiple times, and Smith fell to the ground.
Malear called for medical and attempted life-saving measures for Smith until paramedics came and the suspect eventually succumbed to his injuries, Hyde said.
Preliminary results from the coroner’s office also revealed alcohol, THC and oxycodone in Smith’s system, Hyde said.
Had he survived, Smith would have been charged with robbery with a deadly weapon to include an enhancement due to the victim being 71 years old; attempted grand larceny; possession of a stolen firearm; prohibited person in possession of a firearm; grand larceny firearm; carrying a concealed weapon; and assault with a deadly weapon on a protected person.
Hyde noted that Smith had previously been charged with attempted murder, robbery with a deadly weapon, domestic battery by strangulation and more between the years of 1995 and 2002.
The gun Smith allegedly used in his crimes Monday was stolen, Hyde said, and he has been identified as the suspect in a stolen firearm case.
Malear has been a North Las Vegas police officer since 2018. He has been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation into the shooting, Hyde said.
The investigation is still in the early stages, Assistant Chief Michael Harris said in the briefing Thursday.
