Man wounded by police after shooting at LV bar

Friday, Nov. 26, 2004 | 9:26 a.m.

Two Metro Police officers on Thursday night shot and wounded a Las Vegas man who they believed to have been involved in a shooting at a Flamingo Road bar, police said.

The officers shot David Martin, 27, after Martin failed to stop for police as he drove away from the scene, police said.

Metro patrol cars had responded to a 911 call that shots had been fired about 10:20 p.m. inside the Boston Bar in the 1000 block of Flamingo at Cambridge Avenue, Capt. Tom Lozich said.

There were no reports of injury inside the bar.

Officers pursued the silver sedan Martin was driving and stopped it with a technique used to halt vehicles in pursuits under 40 mph, Deputy Chief Greg McCurdy said.

The car spun to a stop in front of the Rum Runner bar, 495 E. Twain Ave., and Martin ran behind the bar, Lozich said.

Two officers pursued Martin and both shot him at least once, according to a Metro statement.

Southwest Ambulance took Martin to University Medical Center, where he was in stable condition at the hospital's trauma unit, police said. Upon his release, he is expected to be charged with attempted murder of a police officer and being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm.

Police found a handgun they believed to belong to Martin in the bar's parking lot, police said.

Apartment resident Samantha Morgan was walking a friend's dog across from the bar.

"I heard three shots and then three more shots," Morgan said.

She returned the dog to its owner and went to the front of the apartment complex.

"There were police cars everywhere," Morgan said. She said she did not see the police pursuit, but heard sirens and shots fired.

"I keep my eyes and ears open," Morgan said. "Sometimes I'm watching TV and I hear gunshots down the street. I hear through walls."

The two officers were placed on routine administrative leave after the shooting. In keeping with police policy, their names will not be released until 48 hours after the shooting.