Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Metro officer fatally shoots man in northwest valley

Police say man wanted in sex assault case fought with officers

Shooting in Northwest Las Vegas

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun

Metro Police investigate after a man was shot and killed by a detective shortly before 1 p.m. July 1 in the 5500 block of Alexander Drive. The shooting took place as two detectives tried to question the man in a sexual assault and domestic violence case they were working.

Updated Thursday, July 2, 2009 | 5:39 p.m.

Shooting in Northwest Valley

Crime scene tape blocks residents from entering their neighborhood while Metro Police investigate after an officer-involved shooting July 1 in the 5500 block of Alexander Drive, near Helen Street and Rancho Drive. Launch slideshow »

Officer-involved shooting

A man was shot and killed by a Metro Police detective Wednesday afternoon shortly before 1 p.m. as two detectives tried to question him in a sexual assault and domestic violence case they were working.

The detectives, in plain clothes, were questioning the man near the El Jen Convalescent Center, 5538 Duncan Drive, near Alexander Drive, Helen Street and Rancho Drive, said Officer Bill Cassell. The case involved domestic violence battery and sexual assault with a child under the age of 14, he said.

After questioning the man, the detectives went to place him under arrest but the man ran away from the detectives and they began a foot pursuit, Cassell said.

Detectives chased him between a quarter- and a half-mile, firing a Taser at the man, Cassell said. The device failed to stop him.

One of the detectives caught up with him and the confrontation became physical. During the altercation, the man began to fight and the detective fired his handgun twice, fatally wounding the man, Cassell said.

The identity of the man has not been released by the Clark County Coroner's Office.

Cassell said that during the chase, a citizen in a gold Ford Crown Victoria tried to block the man's escape, but the car left the scene. Police would like to commend the person who came to the aid of the officers, Cassell said.

One or both detectives will be placed on paid administrative leave until the investigation into the shooting is completed, Cassell said.

Per department policy, the identity of the detective will be released 48 hours after the incident.

This is the 10th officer-involved shooting in the Las Vegas Valley this year, Cassell said.

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