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twitterLAW ENFORCEMENT:
Metro identifies man in police shooting near Nellis
Published Friday, Aug. 14, 2009 | 9:56 p.m.
Updated Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009 | 11:38 a.m.
Michael Gibbs
Officer-involved shooting
A police officer shot a man wielding a knife Friday evening at a trailer park near Nellis Air Force Base, Metro Police said.
After receiving reports of a man with a gun, two uniformed officers responded at about 8 p.m. to the trailer park at 3825 N. Nellis Blvd. The officers found a man who fit the description and confronted him, police said.
When officers, who were between 20 and 30 feet from the man, asked him show them his hands, the man instead reached under his shirt and pulled out a large bowie knife, said Capt. Randy Montandon. The man was identified Saturday as 36-year-old Michael Gibbs.
Officers -- thinking the knife was a gun -- fired multiple shots and Gibbs was taken to University Medical Center for treatment, police said.
Gibbs was booked in abstentia in connection with assault with a deadly weapon and felony resisting arrest.
Officers weren't injured in the incident, police said. Traffic in the area was disrupted as police investigated.
Anyone with any information is being asked to call CrimeStoppers at 385-5555 or the Metro Police Homicide Section at 828-3521.
Discussion: 50 comments so far…
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WOW, another POLICE shooting toward another..Like I have heard.... AREN'T THEY "TRAINED" to SHOOT AT a LEG! ARM! some were other than shoot to KILL..... look this is getting really old... PD need to inforce a SERIOUS background checks on these officers and long term and ongoing testing to see if they POLICE officers should still be on the force>>>>>
Shoot an arm or a leg? No. No one is trained to shoot at a limb. What law enforcement agency anywhere in the world would dream of such a policy? I defy anyone to show me a department anywhere who advocates this.
To be sure; when an agent of the government takes a human life it is a serious matter. I understand that the police are not perfect, all uses of force need thorough investigations and wrong doings need to be prosecuted. But this entire 'shoot an arm or leg' line of thinking demonstrates a clear lack of understanding. It might work in Hollywood, but no where else, not in the real world.
If an officer truly believes his or her life is in danger it is that officers right and responsibility to shoot until the threat stops, nothing more and nothing less.
Officers fired multiple shots ...... doh, the old bringing a knife to a gun fight trick. Cops get their rocks off AGAIN!!
Gee, since everyone "knows" our cops are trigger happy (see other comments) you'd think everyone would know not to wave a knife at them. Seems like that would be just asking to be shot. And even if they could (and they can't) "shoot at an arm or leg" how loud would you scream if they missed such a small, fast moving target and hit a small child in the background? An uninformed public jumping to conclusions again.
Nice post lv2gen, I echo it and add, every, single, detailed fact is rarely included in a news article but 'about' everyone, sane or otherwise, understands that when you wield a weapon at ANY officer, the outcome usually results in this.
Another viewpoint to consider along with the viewpoint of thisoneguy, maybe.
If a person is 30 feet from me with a knife in his hand, there are a lot of ways I can avoid shooting him in the head, or heart and ultimately, restrain or arrest him/her. For example, I can use one of those very expensive "non-lethal" weapons that officers "had to have" that weigh down the belt of most metro officers.
In other news..."the man with the gun got away".
No one knows why the man, fixing his ice cream truck, waved a knife at the officer. At this point all we know for sure is that the mayo on the knife has been wiped clean.
Cops are trained to shot "center of mass" which is in the chest. They even teach this in concealed carry classes. It's your biggest target. Why aim for a leg or an arm and miss?
And, again, the cops had every LEGAL right to shoot this man since he had a weapon. I'm pretty sure the cops yelled at the man to drop his weapon, the guy didn't listen, and the cops shot him.
I'm not worried that I'll be shot by our so-called trigger happy cops. I don't point weapons at cops, steal cops weapons, or start beating on cops... so what do I have to worry about? Absolutely nothing.
well well JSpence07, what about the few that had been SHOT from BEHIND... How do you explain that... So yup, more will come from this, it's not over, Im sure there was lots of WITNESSES.. They need to come foward. TERRIBLE thing that these BAD OFFICERS are making it look bad for all our GOOD OFFICERS...
why they can't use their 'taser'. I hope this wasn't a case of 'suicide by cop'. Metro needs to put a policy in force to stop this bullsh*t. It makes me afraid to visit vegas any more. (I moved out the first of this year).
'thisoneguy' says: "If an officer truly believes his or her life is in danger it is that officers right and responsibility to shoot until the threat stops, nothing more and nothing less"
That sounds like you are proving the point of the comments who support shooting the arm/leg or non-lethal location. One shot to the knee and this guy is down for the count. at least he's still alive.
Anymore it's difficult to believe anything a Metro cop says about justification of shooting. These cops need leashes installed. Maybe a good idea is to put the 'video/sound recording' on their guns. That way we have an accurate description of events.
Sorry, but Metro has lost all confidence and trust of the people.
he should have been shot for his facial hair alone.
"Bowie Knife 20-30 feet away"? Raises eyebrowes.
stevem-no racial remark? oh only if the perp is not white
lbfromlv
Oh, honey you don't know what you are talking about. It is obvious you have never been in a situation where your life and others' lives are threatened and you have exactly 3 seconds to make a decision.
I know everyone on here is always on Metro's case -- but UNTIL YOU WALK IN A POLICE OFFICER'S SHOES - please keep quiet on something you know nothing about. Do you know THE worst calls a cop can answer is a domestic call? The second worst call is a traffic stop.
So again - until you have walked in their shoes - keep your negative comments to yourself. There is that old saying - everyone hates a cop --- until they need one. Keep that in mind.
BTW - the police didn't shoot this guy dead....so why all the whining? Lucky for the guy with the knife. But now he becomes the taxpayers' burden.
PS Police are trained that when they take that gun out of the holster - they should be prepared to use it.
well, i didn't have time to make a remark about his trailer park facial hair AND a racial remark because i was too busy cleaning my shotgun and watching nascar.
I would love to hear from a witness to this to see if they had to shoot him!
Tell me again about the part where the "Officers -- thinking the knife was a gun -- fired multiple shots" please?
I love that part.
You know, I've never opened a knife drawer and said to myself, "Wow, that knife looks just like a gun".
okay katie, u must have been involved or no of someone CLOSE who has been involved in such a SICKENING Situation.. Yup WITNESS plz come out.. I dont have anything against COPS... But when we have those BAD ones out there it makes it bad for all our GOOD METRO OFFICERS..My son is going to become a OFFICER so I have no hate toward officers, they are here to protect and serve.. By using FOR MY PROTECTION as reasons for their happy finger trigging ways then its time for them to RETIRE. I think that they should as well be TESTED randomly as if any other job would do for their own Saftey, getting tired of taxpayers having to pay out for LAWSUITS that are UNNECASSARY... PLZ MAYOR,GOVENOR,BIG SHERRIFF do something about this... We have a huge amount of GREAT POLICE OFFICERS out there, keep it safe for them to by DILUTING the A**HOLE ONES...
well well JSpence07, what about the few that had been SHOT from BEHIND... How do you explain that... So yup, more will come from this, it's not over, Im sure there was lots of WITNESSES.. They need to come foward. TERRIBLE thing that these BAD OFFICERS are making it look bad for all our GOOD OFFICERS...
*****
Again, you don't now what you are talking about, "mommy". Yes, the one guy that was shot in the back and killed was a very wrong decision by the police officer who did the shooting. That incident was definitely not justifiable.
The police in the incident yesterday were justifed in shooting the man wielding a knife at them. YOU DO NOT POINT ANY TYPE OF WEAPON OF ANY SORT AT A COP!!! Do you understand that????? You also do not run from a cop, try to punch out a cop or aim your car at a cop or the most infamous out in California - keep driving after you were told to "pull over'!! ALL incidents will be reason for guns to be drawn upon you and in the last instance, have a bevy of squad cars racing after you.
People like you make me sick!! You have NO IDEA what it is like to be a cop!! So zip it. And no, watching Law & Order does NOT count on knowing what it is like to be a police officer.
When will people stop walking around with knives?
How many people have to be shot before the rest of the city decides it's just a bad idea?
Just wondering.
Shoot for the leg? I hope I'm not in the area and be the unlucky one to catch that stray bullet. Plus why would the officer have to be looking over his shoulder for this deranged person for the rest of his/her life. Anyone that would pull a weapon on a police officer would not even think twice about killing a regular joe.
Comment removed by staff.
Yes, Law Enforcement EVERYWHERE are taught that if you draw and fire your weapon, you shoot to kill. They don't and shouldn't be expected to mess around "trying to wound" the individual.
That said, there are FAR TO MANY lethal actions taken by law enforcement in the valley.
That is just one of MANY issues Metro continues to have. Image problems? You betcha. I personally believe that Metro/Henderson cops are, as a whole, too young on average & poorly trained.
Young cops make mistakes in judgement and lack life experience to guide their actions. No force should be top-heavy with young'ns. And every force should have access to and requirements for proper and continued training; I'm sure metro/henderson train, but it ain't workin', kiddies.
There also may be a Human Resources issue.
Who they hire, what is their experience, did they wash out somewhere else, who is on the Oral Board for exams, etc. etc.
It's not always donuts and coffee for these mostly good folks who put their lives on the line for us, but we citizens must insist on some accountability. In my opinion, Metro is sorely lacking in several areas. What do they say about s**t flowing downhill? I'd look at the Top Cop.
No reason why the cops can't shoot and drop them...no need to go any further.
And Mormonssuck, do you have a closet full of white sheets, by any chance?
More and more police departments are not teaching 'shoot to kill' but to shoot (at center of available mass, whatever that happens to be at the time) until the threat stops. It is a subtle difference in terminology yes, but the only justifiable use of deadly force is when there is a threat to life, once the threat stops the police must stop shooting as well whether the threat is now wounded, dead, dying or just given up.
The level of thought on here is pretty abhorrent; the police aren't always wrong, and they aren't always right, they are human beings with everything that comes with that, pretending that reality is otherwise is either dishonest or ignorant.
I would bet a c-note that if the face in that picture was black or brown, the replies would be of a remarkably different 'complexion.' Heh.
Michael Gibbs, eh? Any relation to Robert Gibbs? They are both big douche bags.
This does sound like a "suicide-by-cop" deal.
People need to understand that pulling a knife is hugely different than "putting up your dukes" you don't pull a knife to hurt someone, you pull it to kill someone. This is way different than a fist-fight.
I agree too about the race thing James mentions. The cops can't win in any scenario. It's part of the job unfortunately but there are still a lot of people thankful to have them around!
I can't believe. The news should not let that stuff out. He still has a right to defend himself. A knife is not against the law. The media also didnt mention the fact that this guy had a pit bull with him which in and of itself could get you killed. I just feel bad for the police trying to protect society and putting themselves at risk. Maybe Obama's health plan can cover the expenses.
Ha, was this gibbs guy employed anywhere. i'am looking. there could be an opening.
The people who say a officer should shoot somebody in the leg or arm needs to stop watching tv and get in the real world no officer is train that way. When a officer shoot he must believe his life is in danger or somebody else life is in danger period.
well well....whatever the case be someone is going to be punished for it.. the knife weilding jerk or that officer...the truth will come out... and its taking a bit because they are trying to cover up for that shooting... look at what HENDERSON has to pay out, $700,000 to that family that the officer did "SHOOT TO KILL"...hmmm... How many lawsuits do we have to go through before the CHIEF in charge does something about this.... GOSH... Katie, did u all divorce due to ISSUES that maybe your EX cop husband coudlnt deal with, you got out before he did the inevitable,"SHOOT TO KILL"....HMMMM
These comments I leave is not due to CSI,LAW N ORDER or any other shows... I see it and hear about it all the time... It becomes SORRY we apolige to the FAMILY...
LIKE I SAID GET RID OF THE OFFICERS THAT TAKE HAVING THE BADGE to just "SHOOT TO KILL" away from them....SCREEN SCREEN SCREEN then TEST randomly..
Retards, a bowie knife is a pretty large and shiny object. Now take into account that the incident occurred at 8 p.m., when it starts getting dark out. Now put yourself in the officer's shoes for just one split second and imagine you are responding to a "man with a gun call", you see an individual wielding a shiny object about 20-30 feet away, what do you do? For all the officers knew, this man was wielding a gun with the intent of using it. They did the right thing in asking him to show his hands, and when he refused, it left the officers no choice but to shoot.
For those of you saying to shoot a limb: give me a break. Do the world a favor and jump off that new fancy bridge by Hoover Dam.
Comment removed by staff.
Katie, if you read and understand the English language as well as you abuse it, you might be able to find something negative in my post. But, I doubt it.
I would share an opinion about the failure of your marriage (other than his "badge buddy") but I was reared and educated by an intelligent extended family and taught to let others wallow in their own misery so long as it did not affect me or one that I love.
Comment removed by staff.
wow, katie... Did I touch a NERVE..... Hmmm. Well its out of your's mine and everyone elses hands. Now about the Comment >>>>>
You better get a different attitude if your "son" is allegedly going to be an officer. And to become an officer these days you need a college degree. I don't think you understand what it is all about.
I have a feeling YOU AND YOUR FAMILY have had too many run ins with the police and that is why you have this attitude.
Let me remind you AGAIN, woman, that until you walk in their shoes - shut the F*** UP!!!
let me tell you, I am from a very EDUCATED Family... My son knows what it takes to be an OFFICER, he does not need any ADVICE from an EX COPS wife, memember EX COP's WIFE....Hmmm WONDER... He wont leave his WIFE for no "BADGE BUNNY"hmmm you knew him huh.... well there's to show you didnt know ANYTHING about your EX COP HUSBNAND... He could have been a Cop who killed or injured INNOCCENT people in his days and you would have never KNOWN,,,,, since he LIED about your MARRIGAE..HMMM stay out of this with your so called EDUCATED COMMMENTS..
MOMMMY!
I guess when it got to be your turn yer family ran out of edgumakation money.
Comment removed by staff.
Katie, if you read and understand the English language as well as you abuse it, you might be able to find something negative in my post. But, I doubt it.
I would share an opinion about the failure of your marriage (other than his "badge buddy") but I was reared and educated by an intelligent extended family and taught to let others wallow in their own misery so long as it did not affect me or one that I love.
By Nick
8/16/09 at 2:27 p.m.
Suggest removal Katie an old tired right wing white trash bigot
computers and the internet in the hands of illiterate, drunken, bigots surely illustrate the sad state of civility in the world today...these arguments/debates degenerate into personal attacks and polemic screeds based upon bias, prejudice and ignorance of the issues...attack the issue, not the person, in civil discourse...half of you or more, won't even understand what I'm talking about...that means you should log off and stay off...please, for your sake...you're displaying your ignorance and it ain't pretty...UGH...
mormonssuck --
look up boarder, eh? how about BORDER...you make my point for me...my opinion counts a lot more than your bigoted pseudonym and your comments would imply...you exemplify all that is wrong with these blogs perfectly...log off and stay off...
And, by the way, do you know what my name means? And, guess what, I'm Causcasian!!! How does your foot taste about now...take your bigoted hatred elsewhere and spew it there...
Google does have a free spell checker:
http://www.google.com/webmasters/igoogle...
The irony of misspelling "border" in the context of a xenophobic tirade is both priceless and expected.
wait for the police record. then you people who think the cops were wrong are going to feel stupid. i have a friend who knows the guy.