Man slain by police was parolee

Keith Paul

Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2001 | 10:39 a.m.

A 38-year-old man shot by a Metro Police officer after police say he confronted officers with a knife had been released from prison on parole just 13 days earlier.

Tommy L. Gest was shot once and killed by Officer Greg Damarin Sunday about 8:50 a.m. at the intersection of Carson Avenue and Sixth Street. Capt. Dennis Cobb said Gest had come at the officers with a knife.

Gest was paroled on July 30 from Southern Desert Correctional Center near Indian Springs from a 16-year prison sentence -- eight years for robbery and a consecutive eight-year sentence for the victim being over age 65, Glen Whorton of the Nevada Department of Corrections said.

Gest was released from prison on July 30.

Gest had met with a parole officer upon his release from prison, she said.

Damarin, 37, and Officer Pam Schoening, 37, while on patrol Sunday saw Gest swing a knife at a passerby, Cobb said.

Cobbs said Gest lunged toward the patrol car as the officers approached, and continued to come toward the officers after they had drawn their handguns and ordered him to drop the knife.

Damarin, who was closest to Gest, fired one shot that killed the man on the scene, police said.

Damarin, who has been an officer for about 10 years, will remain on paid administrative leave until the outcome of a Clark County coroner's inquest, which will determine if the shooting was justified, criminal or excusable.