Officer wounds robbery suspect

Keith Paul

Thursday, Sept. 12, 2002 | 11:08 a.m.

A Metro Police officer shot a home-invasion suspect Wednesday after the man turned with a gun in his hand as he fled, police said.

The shooting is the 12th time this year a Metro officer has shot at someone.

Officers were called to an apartment complex in the area of Charleston Boulevard and Durango Drive about 11 p.m. Wednesday for a reported home invasion robbery by three men.

An officer spotted a man matching the description of one of the suspects. The officer got out of his car to question the man and a struggle started, Capt. Dennis Cobb said.

"The suspect started running up Charleston and turns toward the officer," Cobb said. "The officer notices something in the suspect's hand, a gun. The officer fired striking the suspect in the hip."

The suspect, later identified as Jesse Gonzalez, continued running toward a gas station, collapsed and was taken into custody. Police said Gonzalez was running toward a car at one of the gas pumps with two men inside. One man ran away and the other was taken into custody.

The third suspect was found about an hour later hiding behind a nearby shopping center, police said.

Gonzalez, who was treated at University Medical Center and released, Tyrell Williams, 23, and Jon Harriss, 19, were booked into the Clark County jail on robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary and other charges.

Police said a handgun was taken from the robbery victim and may have been the one pointed at the officer.

The name of the officer will not be released for 48 hours per department policy. The officer will face a use-of-force board to determine if the shooting was within department guidelines.

Last year Metro officers shot at people in 17 incidents.