http://www.lvrj.com/news/armed-man-shot--killed-by-police-at-costco-98171839.html

Jul. 10, 2010
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Armed man shot, killed by police outside Costco in Summerlin
By ANTONIO PLANAS
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Las Vegas police said officers shot and killed a man who pulled out a handgun at the Costco in Summerlin on Saturday afternoon.

Capt. Patrick Neville said police received a call from Costco at 12:47 p.m. of a man inside the store destroying merchandise. Neville said police were later told the man had a gun.

Neville described the man's behavior inside the store as "kind of going berserk."

The Costco is located at the Canyon Pointe shopping center at 801 S. Pavilion Center Drive, near Red Rock Resort.

Neville said police arrived as customers were exiting the store because Costco management ordered an evacuation. One person pointed police to the man in question.

Neville said an officer then tapped the individual on the shoulder and announced himself as an officer, and the suspect spun around and reached for a gun.

"They ordered him to the ground," Neville said of officers. "He does not comply with that order. He reaches for the weapon, pulls the weapon out, at which time, the weapon was out of the waistband."

Neville said three officers fired at the suspect, striking him numerous times. The shooting occurred just outside the front entrance of the store. At least 20 people were in the vicinity of the shooting, Neville said.

The suspect was taken to University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Neville said the man also had a second weapon on his person, which was discovered when he was transported to the hospital.

Neville described the weapons as semi-automatic handguns. Police didn't say whether the man had a concealed weapon's permit.

Authorities did not release the name of the deceased individual, but police described him as a white man in his 30s or 40s, who stood 6 foot 1 and weighed 190 pounds.

The identities of the officers who fired their weapons will be released 48 hours after the shooting, per department policy. The officers were placed on paid administrative leave.

A Clark County coroner's inquest will be convened to determine whether the officers' actions were justified, excusable or criminal.

A man, who asked not to be identified, said he saw the shooting. Just as he exited the store, he saw a police officer next to him on his right with his gun drawn who yelled something which could have been "get down," "put it down" or "get out of the way," the witness said.

He said he turned to see what the officer was looking at and heard four shots fired. The man said he assumed the man was struck several times in his back. As the suspect fell to the ground because of the gunshots, he raised his arms.

The witness did not see a gun, he said, but Costco employees later told him the man was armed.

The witness said as gunshots were ringing out, Costco patrons were dropping to the ground for protection. The man said he must have "jumped 10 feet" when the shots were fired.

The man said the shooting left him stunned.

"I've never seen anything like that in my life," he said. "I'm totally shocked. This is a great neighborhood. This is a great place to shop."

Contact Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.