Man kills self, shot by police simultaneously

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 | midnight

Coroner: Man died of self-inflicted wound (8-26-2008)

Henderson Police say a 30-year-old man killed himself as he moved toward two officers who simultaneously fired at him inside a Greenway Road residence last Sunday.

The Clark County coroner's office identified the man as 30-year-old James Heitkotter and ruled the manner of death as suicide. Officials additionally ruled that the cause of death was a gunshot wound in the head and noted that a penetrating wound in the chest was a significant condition.

Henderson Police said three officers arrived at a home near College and Horizon drives about 2:20 a.m. after a fight was reported between Heitkotter and a roommate. When they showed up, Heitkotter's wife and the roommate were outside the house.

Officers located Heitkotter in a bedroom with the doors closed, and police said he refused to come out. When the officers opened the door, police said they found Heitkotter sitting on the bed with a rifle pointed at his head.

Before the shooting, police said, Heitkotter spurned orders to drop his gun. Henderson Police spokesman Keith Paul said within moments Heitkotter rose off the bed and moved toward the officers with a rifle in his hands.

Police said he shot himself in the head as two officers fired. One officer's round struck the man in the shoulder area, police said, while the other officers' bullet missed.

Citing an active investigation, Paul declined to give more details on the man's movements toward officers and whether Heitkotter's gun was pointed at officers when they shot at him.

Officer Raymond Wilkins and Officer Johnny Flewellen were placed on routine paid administrative leave. Wilkins has been with Henderson Police since September 2005, and Flewellen has been with the Henderson Police since March 2006.

Dave Clark is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-2677 or dave.clark@hbcpub.com.

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