Officer hurt, suspect dead

A police officer was wounded and a suspect killed in a standoff Thursday morning near Durango High School in southwest Las Vegas.

The Metropolitan Police Department patrol officer was shot in the leg during an exchange of gunfire with the suspect.

The officer was taken to Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. He was expected to fully recover.

The suspect was believed to have shot up the Penthouse Club on Russell Road near Interstate 15 at 6:55 a.m., according to police.

Lt. Lew Roberts said the man got into a physical altercation with the manager of the club and then went to his vehicle, a black Hummer H3 with Nevada license plates.

He got into the vehicle, drove to the club's entrance and fired two shots, Roberts said. He then got out and continued shooting.

"The manager and another witness fled to the back of the business," Roberts said. "Our suspect followed them inside, firing multiple shots at both subjects while inside the business."

Nobody was injured, and the man fled the scene.

A short time later, a patrol officer near Hacienda Avenue and Rainbow Boulevard spotted the Hummer and pursued it until it crashed and flipped over in a desert lot at Hacienda and Montessouri Street, near the northwest corner of Durango High School.

As the patrol officer walked toward the Hummer, which was lying on its passenger's side, the man got out of the vehicle and fired several shots at the officer, hitting him once in the right leg, according to Roberts.

The officer returned fire, and the suspect got back into the Hummer, Roberts said.

The suspect died in the vehicle as SWAT officers waited for him to come out. The Hummer's driver's side front and rear wheels were spinning as the officers approached the vehicle.

Police wouldn't say how the man died or what his name was.

They also didn't release the name of the officer, per department policy of withholding the name of officers involved in shootings for 48 hours. Police said he was a 10-year veteran of the department and assigned to the Southwest Area Command.

Police spokesman Marty Wright said the officer was in "good spirits" and was with his family at the hospital.

"He is now resting comfortably, and hopefully he will be released in the next few days," Wright said.

Police quickly surrounded the area around the shooting and around Durango High School, which was not in session. Police investigators continued to comb the scene, and the man's body wasn't pulled out until 3:45 p.m.

Police tape also lined the area around the Penthouse Club, the parking lot of which was empty save for the occasional detective collecting evidence.

The strip club released a statement saying that management strived to maintain a "safe and comfortable environment" for its employees.

"That is the reason why the suspect in this unfortunate event this morning was evicted from our club," the statement read.

Assistant Sheriff Rod Jett said that from an officer's perspective, shootings such as Thursday's "makes you much more aware of the dangers of working patrol."

He said it also has an effect on officers' families.

"On days like this, you always get a call from your parents and spouses or children, saying, 'I'm glad it wasn't you who was hurt. Stay safe out there.' At least I always did," Jett said.

The incident marked the second time a Las Vegas police officer has been shot this year.

In February, an officer was shot in the leg while assisting U.S. marshals in their effort to arrest two suspects who were "armed and dangerous."

While officers were taking one of the fugitives into custody, the fugitive pulled out a gun and shot one of the officers. Another officer was hurt by the muzzle blast. Both were treated and released from the hospital.

Review-Journal writer David Kihara contributed to this report. Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.