Police officers shoot and kill woman after car theft

By Paul Takahashi

Saturday, April 21, 2012 | 10:40 a.m.

A woman was shot to death early Saturday morning by five police officers who were investigating a report of a stolen car, Metro officials said.

Officers were called at 1:41 a.m. about a stolen car, police said. The owner of the vehicle said a woman that he knew stole his car, police said.

Officers located and stopped the vehicle, which was being driven by the woman, in the area of the North Las Vegas Airport near Jones Boulevard and Smoke Ranch Road. The woman refused to comply with multiple commands to exit the car, prompting calls to SWAT, crisis intervention and negotiations teams, police said.

A crisis intervention officer was talking to the woman over a public address system when she stepped out of the vehicle and pointed a firearm at officers, police said.

Five police officers shot their firearms at the woman, striking her multiple times, police said. The woman was pronounced dead by medical personnel at the scene. Her identity will be released by the Coroner’s Office after notification of her next of kin.

The officers who fired the shots will be placed on administrative leave while the incident is under investigation and their names will be released after two days, per standard department policy.