LAS VEGAS, NV - A suspect is dead after leading police on a chase around the southwest Valley in the early morning hours on Wednesday, December 27th.
According to KATV, law enforcement officials stated that at least two civilians were killed in the violence and are believed to the suspect's mother and a carjacking victim. The suspect was involved in a series of shootings, carjackings, and police pursuits before being fatally shot in an officer-involved shooting.
Captain Joshua Martinez with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) said that officers first responded around 3:46 a.m. to reports of a shooting at an area directly south of Harry Reid International Airport.
Officers heard shots and immediately took cover. Their patrol car was struck with multiple bullets. The suspect then stole the police vehicle and led officers on a pursuit for nearly seven miles. At that point, the suspect abandoned the police car and stole a citizen's vehicle in a carjacking.
Martinez said that the vehicle pursuit continued on for another four or five miles, where the suspect carjacked another person. Upon seeing this happen, an officer did open fire, but the suspect drove away and the pursuit continued. A Nevada State Police Trooper located the vehicle at an intersection. An LVMPD officer arrived and the suspect fired a shot at the officer.
The suspect fled in the stolen car and officers opened fire, hitting the vehicle several times. Martinez said that the pursuit ended after the suspect's car became disabled. The suspect did not cooperate with officers' verbal commands. He was reportedly alone inside the vehicle.
LVMPD's SWAT and crisis negotiators responded to the area. After not witnessing any movement inside of the car, SWAT approached the car, where they determined that the suspect was deceased. According to Martinez, none of the officers involved were injured. Martinez said, "He was taken into custody at that time and there was no further incidents involving the suspect. Once he was taking into custody, we were able to determine no officers were injured at this time."
Homicide Lt. Jason Johansson said that the suspect's parents heard the gunshots and initially drove to the area, getting there before police arrived. After they got out of their truck, the suspect shot and killed his mother. One other person was fatally shot by the suspect before he was stopped by the police. That individual was pronounced dead at the scene.
A witness told 8newsnow that he saw the pursuit. Gerald Worthy, who said he witnessed the shooting, said that he saw a truck stop at the intersection of Durango Drive and Blue Diamond Road. The driver exited the vehicle before what Worthy described as an "exchange of fire." He said that 10 or 12 shots went off before a pause and then another seven shots.
During the news conference, Martinez stressed that the information he shared was preliminary, urging anyone who witnessed the string of events to call LVMPD's dispatch at 702-828-3111.
The names of the officers involved are expected to be released within 48 hours of the incident and a representative of the sheriff's office is expected to share additional information regarding the investigation within 72 hours.
According to KATV, law enforcement officials stated that at least two civilians were killed in the violence and are believed to the suspect's mother and a carjacking victim. The suspect was involved in a series of shootings, carjackings, and police pursuits before being fatally shot in an officer-involved shooting.
Captain Joshua Martinez with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) said that officers first responded around 3:46 a.m. to reports of a shooting at an area directly south of Harry Reid International Airport.
Officers heard shots and immediately took cover. Their patrol car was struck with multiple bullets. The suspect then stole the police vehicle and led officers on a pursuit for nearly seven miles. At that point, the suspect abandoned the police car and stole a citizen's vehicle in a carjacking.
Martinez said that the vehicle pursuit continued on for another four or five miles, where the suspect carjacked another person. Upon seeing this happen, an officer did open fire, but the suspect drove away and the pursuit continued. A Nevada State Police Trooper located the vehicle at an intersection. An LVMPD officer arrived and the suspect fired a shot at the officer.
The suspect fled in the stolen car and officers opened fire, hitting the vehicle several times. Martinez said that the pursuit ended after the suspect's car became disabled. The suspect did not cooperate with officers' verbal commands. He was reportedly alone inside the vehicle.
LVMPD's SWAT and crisis negotiators responded to the area. After not witnessing any movement inside of the car, SWAT approached the car, where they determined that the suspect was deceased. According to Martinez, none of the officers involved were injured. Martinez said, "He was taken into custody at that time and there was no further incidents involving the suspect. Once he was taking into custody, we were able to determine no officers were injured at this time."
Homicide Lt. Jason Johansson said that the suspect's parents heard the gunshots and initially drove to the area, getting there before police arrived. After they got out of their truck, the suspect shot and killed his mother. One other person was fatally shot by the suspect before he was stopped by the police. That individual was pronounced dead at the scene.
A witness told 8newsnow that he saw the pursuit. Gerald Worthy, who said he witnessed the shooting, said that he saw a truck stop at the intersection of Durango Drive and Blue Diamond Road. The driver exited the vehicle before what Worthy described as an "exchange of fire." He said that 10 or 12 shots went off before a pause and then another seven shots.
During the news conference, Martinez stressed that the information he shared was preliminary, urging anyone who witnessed the string of events to call LVMPD's dispatch at 702-828-3111.
The names of the officers involved are expected to be released within 48 hours of the incident and a representative of the sheriff's office is expected to share additional information regarding the investigation within 72 hours.
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