1 dead in officer-involved shooting in northwest valley

By Jackie Valley

Published Tuesday, April 12, 2011 | 12:12 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, April 12, 2011 | 3:18 p.m.

A Metro Police officer shot and killed a suicidal man who pointed a gun at police Tuesday morning in the northwest Las Vegas Valley, authorities said.

Police Capt. Patrick Neville said officers responded at 11:33 a.m. to a home in the 3900 block of Grand Meadow Drive, near Grand Canyon Drive and Alexander Road, after a woman called to report a man was threatening suicide in the garage of a house.

Officers arrived and stood at the edge of the open garage door while the man was lying on the floor of the garage, Neville said.

Police noticed the man was armed with a small semi-automatic handgun, prompting officers to demand that he put the gun down. Neville said the man began to point the gun toward police, then one officer fired several times, striking the man.

The man, who police said appeared to be in his late 40s or early 50s, was taken to a hospital, where he later died. His name wasn't being released Tuesday. The Clark County Coroner's Office was notifying the man's family of his death, police said.

Police said the man lived at the house. The relationship between the man and woman wasn't known Tuesday afternoon.

Police are investigating whether the man pointed the gun at officers, hoping they would fire at him — or, in essence, a "suicide by cop" scenario, Neville said.

Police expected the surrounding neighborhood would be blocked off for several hours as they continue the investigation.

The officer who fired was placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure in cases of officer-involved shootings. Police will release the officer's name within 48 hours of the shooting.