Inquest finds officer justified in 1996 shooting

Friday, May 18, 2001 | 4:42 a.m.

A Clark County Coroner's inquest jury took just minutes Friday to find that a Metro Police officer was justified in a 1996 shooting of a gunman on Interstate 15.

The jury of four men and seven women deliberated 18 minutes -- the second fastest ever, missing the record for a local coroners inquest by three minutes -- before finding Metro Police intelligence sergeant Larry Burns acted justifiably in firing the shot that killed Miguel Angel Gomez, 49.

Gomez died March 31 at the North Las Vegas Care Center having never regained consciousness after he was wounded in the head during a Jan. 19, 1996 standoff on I-15 near the Apex exit, where two officers also were shot.

At the time of the shooting, Burns was one of four Metro Special Weapons and Tactics officers who responded to the scene and fired weapons.

Locally, it was the longest period on record between the shooting of a citizen and an inquest involving the officer who pulled the trigger. Officially, the corners inquest found that Gomez died of complications resulting from the gunshot wound. The complications included an infected bladder.

"I certainly had the responsibility to do that (shoot Gomez)," Burns told the jury, noting that the lives of dozens of officers and innocent motorists were threatened by the handgun Gomez fired in two volleys -- seven the first time and two after a brief respite. "He was attempting to take my life."

Four Metro SWAT officers -- Burns, Jerry Montes, Christopher Petko and Troy Wilson -- shot at Gomez, who was hit several times. But Burns faced the inquest because it was determined by forensic science that his weapon discharged the fatal round. All officers previously had been cleared by the department of any wrongdoing in the shooting.

Clark County Coroner Ron Flud said that while no family for Gomez could be found and no civil suits were filed, the inquest created a record and maintained the consistency of practice in the investigative process for police-involved fatal shootings.

The standoff began when Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Antony Skordoulis stopped to help a man with one leg, who was standing on the side of the interstate near a stopped car and holding a sign that read, "need gas."

But before Skordoulis could check him for weapons, Gomez pulled out a gun and shot the trooper in the leg, police said. Skordoulis fired and radioed for help. Gomez locked himself inside his car. SWAT officers fired tear gas. Gomez left the vehicle firing his weapon, and received a serious head wound in the process. SWAT Officer Paul Dapra was shot under the left arm during the shoot-out, police said.

The jury had the choice of finding the shooting justified, excusable or criminal.