Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Metro officer shoots knife-wielding woman on Tropicana Avenue

A Metro Police officer opened fire on a knife-wielding woman Friday night, striking her at least once.

Officer Larry Hadfield said a man called 911 about 9:20 p.m. to report a domestic disturbance involving his wife, Tania Torres-Espinoza, who was allegedly armed with two kitchen knives and had just left their home.

An officer found Torres-Espinoza walking westbound on Tropicana Avenue near Celo Lane still armed with a knife, Hadfield said. The officer pulled a U-turn and stepped out of her patrol car, and Torres-Espinoza reportedly began walking toward her.

“The officer attempted to use the patrol vehicle as a barrier between her and the suspect,” Hadfield said in a statement. “(Torres-Espinoza) continued to advance, and the officer was forced to fire two rounds, striking the armed suspect.”

No other details about the shooting were released Saturday. Hadfield said the officer will be identified Monday.

Torres-Espinoza was taken to Sunrise Trauma Center; police did not describe the extent of her injuries.

She was booked at the hospital on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, and resisting a public officer with a weapon.

Friday’s incident was Metro’s fifth officer-involved shooting since January.

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