Metro officer involved in fatal shooting ID’d

Monday, Sept. 23, 2002 | 10:46 a.m.

A Metro Police officer, who shot a car theft suspect in the head Thursday night, has been identified as Officer John Pelletier.

Police say Pelletier shot 27-year-old Edward Cook of Las Vegas after police Cook pulled a handgun and pointed it at the officer. Cook was taken to University Medical Center where he died Friday.

Pelletier, 30, will remain on paid administrative leave pending an outcome of a Clark County coroner's inquest, which will determine if the shooting was justified.

The shooting happened behind the Nevada Palace, 5255 Boulder Highway, police said.

Pelletier, an officer since July 1999, spotted a suspicious vehicle near Tropicana Avenue and Boulder Highway, Capt. Dennis Cobb said. The driver 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 suspect vehicles drove behind Nevada Palace where they stopped and a man jumped out of one of the cars and pointed a gun at the officer, who had also gotten out of his car, Cobb said. The officer fired once, shot striking the suspect in the head, police said.