A view of the scene where a shooting took place in the northeast valley at Stewart Avenue and Nellis Boulevard, Monday, Oct. 21, 2013.
Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 | 10:17 a.m.
A Metro Police officer who shot an unarmed man he mistakenly thought was a suspect in a double homicide was identified today as Jason Evans, a veteran of more than five years on the force, officials said.
Evans, 29, was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into the shooting about 10:35 p.m. Monday at a 7-Eleven convenience store at Nellis Boulevard and Stewart Avenue.
Evans, who has been on the force since March 2008, noticed a man he thought matched the description of a suspect wanted in a double homicide Sunday at the Pacific Harbor Apartments, 5150 E. Sahara Ave., Metro Deputy Chief Al Salinas said.
As Evans approached the man, the subject showed his left hand but hid the right side of his body and backed away, Salinas said. Evans “felt threatened” and fired one round, shooting the man in the abdomen, Salinas said.
The man was transported to University Medical Center, where he was expected to recover, police said. No one else was injured.
The man did not have a weapon and, after an initial investigation, police do not believe he is the suspect sought in the double homicide, Salinas said.
Evans is assigned to the North East Area Command Patrol Division.
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