Suspect shot by Henderson SWAT officers faces assault charges

The last time Wanda Kelton saw Jake E. Goldsborough, he handed her a Hershey's Kiss and said, "A sweet for a sweet."

That was about two weeks ago at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church's nightly dinner for the homeless in Henderson. The 36-year-old man, who a friend said rents a room off Boulder Highway, was carrying an infant doll in a basket. Kelton found it odd.

"He kept to himself," Kelton said Thursday night after dinner at the church. "He was really quiet. ... Polite."

On Wednesday night, Goldsborough had a doll with him when he barricaded himself in the bathroom of an Albertsons store at 190 N. Boulder Highway, near Lake Mead Parkway. Henderson police were told he had an infant with him.

After a 45-minute standoff, Goldsborough was shot and wounded by three Henderson SWAT officers when he exited the bathroom and pointed a pellet gun at police.

Goldsborough, who remained hospitalized Thursday at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, was booked by proxy on three counts of assault with a deadly weapon. He was reported to be in critical condition Wednesday night. The extent of Goldsborough's injuries and how many times he was shot were not detailed by police.

Kathleen Trujillo said Thursday night she has known Goldsborough for years.

The father of three lost his factory job last year, Trujillo said. His unemployment checks stopped about two months ago, sending him on a downward spiral.

Trujillo said Goldsborough was depressed and worried about his livelihood. He recently made suicidal statements, and Trujillo said she wouldn't be surprised if his bizarre behavior on Wednesday were a "suicide by cop" attempt.

"He just wanted to give up," Trujillo said. "He's trying to find a job and couldn't find a job."

She guessed the doll he carried to the Albertsons belonged to his 11-year-old daughter, who is his life, Trujillo said.

Police spokesman Keith Paul said officers had no choice but to shoot Goldsborough because they thought the pellet gun was real.

"The officers were trying to get him to surrender peacefully," Paul said. "He came out of the bathroom holding what appeared to be a handgun that investigators didn't realize was a pellet gun until they picked it up and examined it."

After Goldsborough was shot, police found the infant-sized doll on a changing table next to the man's other possessions.

Police said officers fired after Goldsborough disobeyed orders to drop his weapon. The three SWAT officers have not been identified and are on paid administrative leave.

The grocery store's restroom was closed to the public Thursday, with a sign that said it was undergoing repairs.

Store management told employees to remain mum about the incident. But outside the store, among the steady stream of homeless who live in the nearby open desert, Goldsborough was identified as "cuckoo." They described him as having an obsessive-compulsive addiction to baby wipes and said he walked the Henderson streets nonstop during the day.

The encampment is used as housing by the jobless and the penniless.

"He paces out there every day, and he's constantly wiping himself with baby wipes," said Ralph Shotwell, a 50-something Montana native.

Of the more than 100 people who showed up Thursday night for the free dinner at the church on Pacific Avenue, many said Goldsborough's face looked familiar, but only Kelton seemed to know him. She was saddened by the news of his shooting.

He was "out there," Kelton said.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. Contact reporter Tom Ragan at tragan@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5512.