Monday, Jan. 10, 2022 | 5:34 p.m.
The man fatally shot by Metro Police last week in the southeast valley had a history of mental health issues and was attempting to break into a family member’s home shortly before he tried to charge an officer with a hunting knife, police said today at a briefing.
Ricardo Antonio Otero, 30, died Thursday at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center after he was shot four times by officer Jason Guerra, Clark County Assistant Sheriff John McGrath said.
Guerra, 40, has been with the department since 2005.
Police were alerted of a burglary in progress shortly before 10:30 a.m. in the 6700 block of Frances Celia Avenue, McGrath said.
The caller stated that his son, Otero, was armed with the knife and was attempting to break into his house. Officers were given a description of Otero and were advised that he left the property after his father alerted him police were on their way.
Two arriving patrol units — including Guerra — located Otero walking on the sidewalk near Broadbent Avenue and Cherry Street and conducted a pedestrian stop, McGrath said.
An officer with the other patrol unit asked Otero to step in front of the patrol vehicle, to which Otero refused. Otero then pulled out his knife and started walking toward Guerra, according to McGrath and body-worn camera footage shown at the briefing.
Guerra starts moving backward while continuing to issue commands to Otero to stop moving, but Otero continues to close the gap between the two, McGrath said.
Otero continued to approach Guerra as he was up against a wall near the sidewalk, the footage shows. Guerra had moved back more than 75 feet before he opened fire, McGrath said.
The call from Otero’s father to a 911 dispatcher was played at the briefing, and the father can be heard saying, “He has a knife. He’s trying to get into my house.”
McGrath added that Otero was known to suffer from mental health episodes before and Metro had assisted on previous occasions when he was “in crisis.”
A restraining order had also been filed against Otero by family members living in the house he was attempting to gain entry to, McGrath said.
The investigation remains ongoing. McGrath did not say if Guerra was suspended, or if he faces any disciplinary action pending the outcome of the investigation.
