Officer who fired at man with ‘replica firearm’ Monday night ID’d
The officer who fired at a man holding what was later determined to be a “plastic replica firearm” Monday night in the south valley has been identified, the Metropolitan Police Department announced Wednesday night.
Sgt. William Matchko, 34, fired his weapon at the man who was holding what appeared to be a real firearm about 8 p.m. at the 100 block of La Padania Avenue, near South Las Vegas Boulevard and Barbara Lane, Metro said in a release. He has been on the force for 11 years.
The man Matchko shot was treated at an area hospital with a non-life-threatening wound that night, police said.
Matchko was working in Metro’s community policing division in the south valley at the time of the shooting. He has been placed on routine paid administrative leave per protocol, pending the outcome of a review on the shooting.
This was Metro’s third officer-involved shooting this year.
Police will detail the moments that led up to the shooting at a briefing sometime this week. Body camera footage is available from at least one responding officer, Sgt. Jeff Clark said at the scene Monday night.
Contact Rachel Crosby at rcrobsy@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290. Find her on Twitter: @rachelacrosby
