Coroner identifies woman fatally shot by Henderson Police

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 | 3:39 p.m.

The Clark County Coroner's Office on Wednesday identified a woman who was fatally shot this week by Henderson Police.

The coroner said 39-year-old Kelly DuPriest died of multiple gunshot wounds during the Monday night incident in an upscale Henderson neighborhood. Investigators didn't know where the woman lived and a coroner's inquest hasn't been set.

The names of the six officers who fired their weapons are expected to be released 48 hours after the shooting, which is standard department policy. Their names weren't available Wednesday afternoon.

Henderson Police say the officers fatally shot the woman Monday night in the MacDonald Highlands community after the woman and a man sped toward officers in a car stolen at gunpoint.

Police spokesman Keith Paul said officers caught up with the stolen vehicle at about 8:10 p.m. Monday after it got stuck on a gravel road at the end of MacDonald Ranch Drive. Police ordered the suspects to exit the car, but they refused, Paul said.

Authorities then negotiated with the man and woman for about 45 minutes, urging them to surrender and leave the car. Paul said the woman behind the wheel, identified as DuPriest, put the car into reverse and drove toward officers, prompting them to fire at the woman and man.

The male passenger, whose name wasn't available Wednesday, was hospitalized with injuries that weren't considered life-threatening, police said. He will face charges of armed robbery, burglary and auto theft, with other charges possible, police said.

The suspects are accused of committing a series of crimes in the MacDonald Highlands community, including abandoning another stolen car, breaking into a home and carjacking, police said.

The six officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave during an investigation, which is standard procedure in cases of officer-involved shootings.