Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Security guard who accidentally shot jewelry store worker was state-certified

Henderson Jared jewelry exterior

Steve Marcus

The Jared the Galleria of Jewelry store at 1071 W. Sunset Road, near Marks Street in Henderson, is seen Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. An employee of the store was killed during an apparent robbery Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017.

Click to enlarge photo

The suspect in an attempted robbery at Jared the Galleria of Jewelry, at 1071 W. Sunset Road, near Marks Street, in Henderson on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, is seen in surveillance footage.

The security officer who Henderson police said inadvertently shot and killed a jewelry store employee during a robbery Saturday was up-to date on his training certifications and is in good standing with the state agency that regulates companies that supply armed guards, according to Kevin Ingram, executive director of the Nevada Private Investigator's Licensing Board.

Detectives on Tuesday continued to search for the armed suspect who attempted to rob the Jared the Galleria of Jewelry store, police said. He is expected to face murder-related charges since the death of Kimberlee Ann Kincaid-Hill, 57, of Henderson, occurred during the commission of a crime.

Officers were dispatched about 8:45 p.m. to the store, 1071 W. Sunset Road, near Marks Street, 15 minutes before it was scheduled to close, police said. There they found Kincaid-Hill critically wounded with a gunshot wound to the chest.

She died at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center a short while later.

It was determined that the suspect — gun-in-hand — entered the store and that the guard, in an attempt to subdue him, fired his gun, police said. His round missed and struck Kincaid-Hill instead.

The suspect was described as a black man who stands between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-10 and weighs 140 to 150 pounds, police said.

The man, who fled on foot westbound on Sunset without any merchandise or cash, wore a red and black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, a black mask and a dark-colored hat or beanie, and he was carrying a dark-colored backpack or bag, police said.

As of Tuesday night, the guard hadn't been publicly identified by police or by the board.

Ingram cited an open investigation for not being able to release specific details, including the guard's name and what transpired at the store Saturday night.

It wasn't immediately clear what company employed the security guard or how long he's been a certified guard, but Ingram said he and the company were in good standing with the board.

To be a certified guard in the state, a candidate must undergo training of eight hours on how to carry and handle a firearm safely. The person must also complete a written exam and obtain a score of 75 percent or above, according to the statute. Furthermore, the person must complete at least five hours of training on a firing range, using a weapon with the same caliber and type as the one the guard will use on duty.

The work card obtained during certification is good for five years and the guards must apply for it to be re-certified every six months, according to the statute.

Not all armed security details fall under the board's jurisdiction, which excludes the likes of major retailers with internal security units and gaming resorts, Ingram said.

"We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our Team Members, Kim Hill, was fatally wounded in an attempted armed robbery. ... We extend our deepest sympathies to her family, friends and colleagues. Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and team members and their ability to shop and work in a safe environment," a spokeswoman for Jared the Galleria of Jewelry said in an email statement. "We are taking all necessary steps in cooperating with the local police department and working with our security provider."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 311. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or online at crimestoppersofnv.com.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy