Coroner to examine police involvement in suicide

By Dave Clark

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008 | 7:08 a.m.

The Clark County coroner's office will hold an inquest into the Aug. 24 death of a Henderson man who police say shot himself in the head as two officers fired at him.

Police said 30-year-old James Heitkotter was moving toward two officers inside a Greenway Road residence when he was shot. The coroner's office ruled the death a suicide through a gunshot wound in the head. However, a wound in the chest was characterized as a significant condition, authorities said.

Despite the official ruling, the coroner's office decided to host an inquest, which examines the evidence and determines whether a shooting death involving a police officer was justified. No date has been set for the inquest.

"The ordinance says that when an officer's involved in the death of an individual the coroner will hold an inquest," Clark County Assistant Coroner John Fudenberg said. "Two officers fired a weapon. One of the officer's rounds struck the (man) in the chest. We interpreted the gunshot wound as being involved in the death of the individual."

The process took longer than usual, Fudenberg said.

"We just wanted to make sure we got all the facts straight," he said.

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

Heitkotter ignored orders to drop his gun. He rose off the bed and moved toward the officers with a rifle in his hands, police said. When he did, the officers fired their weapons as he fired his at himself, police said.

Dave Clark can be reached at 990-2677 or dave.clark@hbcpub.com.