Nye County Sheriff's Office
Steven Benson
Friday, Dec. 4, 2020 | 7 p.m.
A Pahrump man fired 244 bullets at officers before he was “extracted” from his mobile home by SWAT deputies, according to the Nye County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident comes almost 20 years after the suspect, Steven Benson, 62, tried to kill Metro Police officers in a similar fashion, that time from his Las Vegas residence on Feb. 5, 2001, according to authorities and Clark County District Court records.
About a year later — the following April — Benson’s attempted murder charges were dropped, and he pleaded guilty to lesser charges, receiving a suspended prison sentence, Clark County District Court logs show.
At that time, a judge prohibited him from owning guns and ordered Benson to undergo mental evaluations, court logs show. He was also prohibited from consuming alcohol during his probation term.
On Thursday evening, a person called 911 to report that the neighbor from across the street was shooting rounds, one which went through the person’s tree and almost struck someone.
Deputies responded about 5:30 p.m. to the 3200 block of Kings Way, in a neighborhood about 70 miles west of Las Vegas, Nye County Sgt. Ann Horak said.
Immediately upon arrival, the gunman began targeting officers, who had to hunker down behind their squad cars, Horak said. When he saw them move, he would shoot at them, she added.
SWAT came in and arrested him without further incident, said Horak, not offering additional details.
Deputies didn’t fire a single round, and no one was injured, Horak said.
Investigators found three rifles, handguns, binoculars, spent rounds and bullet holes shot from inside the home, Horak said.
Benson, who is facing multiple counts, including assault on a protected person, attempted murder and discharging a gun from a structure, was booked into the Nye County Detention Center.
Shortly after noon on Feb. 5, 2001, Metro Police were dispatched to a “travel trailer” behind a house at 90 Ronald Lane — near Charleston and Lamb boulevards — where Benson lived, after he was seen walking around with a gun, according to his arrest report.
Patrol officers tried to talk to Benson, calling SWAT officers when their efforts proved futile, police said. When an officer did a “quick peek around” into the backyard, Benson opened fire.
They retreated, but “gunshots continued to be fired at them from the trailer,” police said. An officer returned fire, but Benson continued to shoot in “other directions.”
Sometime after, Benson exited and tried climbing a fence, throwing a loaded shotgun and two pistols over, police said.
“I got eight of them, but there’s more,” Benson told arresting officers.
In a later interview, he told investigators that he’d gone to a bar and “had a few drinks,” police said. “He then walked home when the cops grabbed him.”
