Officer shoots suspect in car theft in head

Friday, Sept. 20, 2002 | 9:45 a.m.

A Metro Police officer shot a car-theft suspect in the head Thursday night after the man pointed a handgun at the officer, Capt. Dennis Cobb said.

The suspect, who has not yet been identified, was taken to University Medical Center where he remains in critical condition.

The shooting happened about 10:45 p.m. behind the Nevada Palace, 5255 Boulder Highway, police said.

The plainclothes officer, who works out of the Southeast Area Command, was driving an unmarked car in the area of Tropicana Avenue and Boulder Highway when he spotted a suspicious vehicle, Cobb said.

He said the suspect attempted to lose the officer, and while in pursuit the officer was told by dispatchers that the vehicle was stolen. A second vehicle, also stolen, was driving along with the first vehicle, police said.

The two vehicles drove behind Nevada Palace, where they stopped. A man jumped out of one of the cars and pointed a gun at the following officer, who had also got out of his car, Cobb said. The officer fired one shot, striking the suspect in the head.

Investigators said they later learned that the woman driving the second stolen car was an accomplice and that she and the other suspect were talking on two-way radios.

A department spokesman would not comment on the charges that the suspects face. Homicide Lt. Tom Monahan did not immediately return phone calls.

The officer who shot the suspect has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into the shooting, and his name will not be released by the department until 48 hours have passed from the time of the shooting.