Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Police fatally shoot man who fired at officer near UNLV

Updated Wednesday, April 20, 2011 | 12:11 a.m.

Officer-involved shooting

KSNV coverage of officer-involved shooting at Flamingo Road and Swenson Street, April 19, 2011.

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A Metro Police officer fatally shot a man who opened fire on him after a car pursuit Tuesday near the UNLV campus, authorities said.

A male and female officer tried to pull over a motorist about 8:05 p.m. after spotting a vehicle weaving on Flamingo Road, police said. The man wouldn’t stop and, concerned that he was heading toward the Strip, the officers spun out the car at the intersection of Swenson Street, police said.

Metro Capt. Patrick Neville said the man exited the car, fired a shot toward officers, started to flee, then turned around and fired another round. The male officer returned fire, striking the gunman several times, police said.

The man, who has not been identified, was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Neither of the officers was injured.

Police said they didn’t know why the man refused to stop. “We still have a lot more work to do on this case,” Neville said.

“We’re still trying to get a positive ID on who this person is,” he said. Police said the man appeared to be in his 30s.

Metro spokesman officer Jacinto Rivera said the car, a 2001 Chevrolet, is registered to a Las Vegas man, but the description of the owner didn’t match the man who fired at police. The car had not been reported stolen, police said.

Neville said another vehicle was struck by gunfire, but police do not know if the bullet came from the suspect’s weapon or the officer’s gun.

The area of Flamingo Road and Swenson Street was closed Tuesday night, but police said it was expected to reopen by about midnight.

The officer will be placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation, which is standard in cases of officer-involved shootings. The officer’s name will be released 48 hours after the shooting.

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