Man killed in struggle with police

Cathy Scott

Friday, Feb. 27, 1998 | 9:54 a.m.

A Metro Police officer shot and killed a man early today after another officer, struggling with the man during a domestic violence call, was shot through the arm.

The shootings took place shortly after 2 a.m. while police were responding to a domestic violence call at a northeast Las Vegas apartment complex, Metro Police said.

Patrol officers were first called to an apartment at 6901 E. Lake Mead Blvd., near Hollywood Boulevard, at 6 p.m. Thursday. When officers arrived, the suspect was gone, police said.

A second call was received just after 2 a.m. by a woman who told police that the suspect had returned and that he was doing drugs, police said. When two officers arrived, the man attacked one of them, police said.

The suspect, police said, managed to disarm one of the officers and fired several shots at the officer with the officer's weapon, hitting him in the forearm. The second officer, also struggling with the suspect, was able to get his gun out. He fired at least two rounds at the suspect, police said.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, died at the scene.

Both officers were taken to University Medical Center, one with a bullet hole through his forearm, police said. He was in good condition today and was being admitted to a hospital room this morning, a nursing supervisor said. The other officer, who suffered minor scrapes and bruises during the struggle, was treated and released.

The officers were placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. It is Metro's policy to withhold the name of any officer involved in a shooting until 48 hours after the incident.