Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Metro releases body camera footage of officer-involved shooting

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James Nelson

Members of a crowd can be heard screaming as a man suspected in a battery case lies on the ground in newly released body camera video from a Metro Police officer-involved shooting Monday night.

James A. Nelson, 21, was shot twice in the abdomen by Officer Thomas Griffin at The Suites, located at 4855 S. Boulder Highway, near Flamingo Road, police said.

Griffin, a 47-year-old trainee who has been employed by Metro since March, was accompanied by field training Officer Todd Fasulo Jr. during a follow-up investigation on a reported robbery call, police said.

Fasulo, 28, has been employed with Metro since 2008, Undersheriff Kevin McMahill said in a news conference today.

Police received a report early Monday of a fight among three people at The Suites and a woman being robbed of her cellphone and shoes, McMahill said.

Officers responded but could not locate the female who made the call, though the caller identified Nelson as a suspect, he said.

About 8 p.m., the same person made a 911 call claiming she had been robbed, and the two officers responded to the 3900 block of Mountain Vista Street, less than a mile away from The Suites, McMahill said.

Fasulo and Griffin determined that the event didn't meet the definition of a robbery, but they did determine that a battery occurred, police said.

Nelson and a female were identified as suspects in the battery, and the officers arrived at The Suites to interview Nelson, police said.

Fasulo, who had several contacts with Nelson in the past, was aware Nelson's mother lived in the complex, McMahill said.

Fasulo and Griffin entered Nelson's mother's apartment and looked for Nelson, but his mother would not say whether he lived at the residence, he said.

Officers then saw Nelson walking with two females through the complex and approached him with weapons drawn, police said.

When Nelson saw the officers, McMahill said, "he pulled his pants up with both hands" and did not listen to officers' verbal commands.

Fasulo believed Nelson intended to run and grabbed him around his shoulders, McMahill said.

As Nelson's shirt rose, the officers spotted a gun in his waistband, and Griffin yelled "gun" multiple times, police said.

Fasulo then pushed Nelson away, creating space, and Nelson removed the gun from his waist, turning with the gun toward Fasulo, police said.

Griffin fired three rounds, striking Nelson twice and sending the other bullet through an apartment wall, McMahill said.

Nelson was arrested as a crowd gathered.

Video from a police body camera released today shows an officer taking Nelson into custody, and multiple voices can be heard screaming, with one person yelling "Why did they shoot him?" as another voice yells "Get back!"

One of the officers attempts to comfort Nelson, rubbing his shoulder and telling him medical personnel are on the way. The officer advises police over his radio that a hostile crowd has gathered.

The video shows an object that appears to be a gun on the ground near Nelson.

Nelson was transported to Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, where he underwent surgery.

He was arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon on an officer and carrying a concealed weapon, but he remains in the hospital, police said.

He is "surviving," McMahill said.

A male in the crowd on scene was arrested after he took his shirt off and attempted to confront officers, police said.

Griffin has been placed on routine paid administrative leave as the case is investigated, police said.

The gun, a .22-caliber revolver, was loaded with nine rounds and was unregistered, police said.

The weapon has not been reported as stolen, and Metro is working with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to discover the origins of the gun.

Nelson has an extensive juvenile history of violent offenses and is a documented member of the Money Gang, McMahill said.

He has been arrested multiple times since he became an adult for offenses ranging from burglary to assault with a deadly weapon, police said.

Nelson was also put on a mental health hold in January 2014 after police say he attempted suicide.

This event was the first Metro officer-involved shooting in 2015.

Police are searching for the two females who were with Nelson prior to the shooting.

Anyone with any information on the case can call Metro's Force Investigation Section at 702-828-8452. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or visit crimestoppersofnv.com.

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