Man killed in shoot-out with police

Cathy Scott

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

A 20-year-old man was shot to death by Metro Police officers today after he fired at the officers in a southeast valley home.

Police were called about 7 a.m. to the home at 4882 San Sebastian Ave., near Flamingo Road and Mountain Vista Drive.

They were called by the man's parents, who were afraid because he had a gun, said Metro Capt. Charles Davidaitis.

The man, whose name was not released, fired three shots at the officers after they entered the home, and the officers -- two men and one woman -- returned fire in a hallway.

The man had been drinking all night and was a suspect in a 5 a.m. shooting at a vacant house on a nearby street, Davidaitis said. Police first were called to the San Sebastian house at 6 a.m. after the man got into a fight with his parents, but the 20-year-old was gone when police arrived. He returned about 7 with the gun, Davidaitis said.

Friends of the young man stood across the street from the house crying as homicide investigators secured the scene.

A neighbor two doors away said the man's family was a quiet one.

"We've never had any problems with the kid," said the neighbor, who asked not to be identified. "We'd see him walking a little dog. He's say hi to us. I know they've had police here before, though."

The three officers were being comforted by supervisors outside the home. One broke down and dropped his flashlight and baton as his supervisor put his arm around him.

The officers were being interviewed by investigators at press time.

A young man who said he was a friend of the man said, "He was shot and killed, pretty much that's it. I don't want to talk about it."