Officer involved in recent shooting shot, killed suspect six months ago

Jen Lawson

Monday, March 17, 2003 | 11 a.m.

The Metro Police officer who shot and wounded a robbery suspect last week at an apartment complex is the same officer who killed a suspected car thief six months ago in the parking lot of the Nevada Palace.

On Friday, Officer John Pelletier, 30, shot Edward Seely, 32, who was wanted for questioning in connection with an earlier robbery of a 7-Eleven at Charleston and Torrey Pines. Seely allegedly pointed a gun at Pelletier when the officer confronted him at a nearby apartment complex.

Seely was in critical condition this morning at University Medical Center, a spokeswoman said.

Pelletier has been suspended with pay pending an administrative review of the shooting, according to departmental policy.

Pelletier, who joined Metro in July 1999, was found to be justified in the Sept. 19 shooting that killed Edward Cook, 27.

That shooting happened behind the Nevada Palace at 5255 Boulder Highway. Pelletier, in plain clothes and driving an unmarked car, allegedly spotted a suspicious vehicle near Tropicana and Boulder Highway and began following it.

Dispatchers told Pelletier that the Chevrolet Blazer the suspect was driving had been reported stolen. A second vehicle, also reported stolen, was driving along with the Blazer.

The drivers allegedly tried to lose Pelletier. They stopped behind Nevada Palace, where Cook jumped out of the Blazer and pointed a gun at Pelletier, police said.

Pelletier fired once, hitting Cook in the head.

A coroner's inquest jury ruled in November that Pelletier's shooting of Cook was justified. Pelletier, one of nine witnesses who testified at the inquest, said he had no other choice but to defend himself against Cook.