Arrest report details 7-Eleven robbery, police shooting

A police report released Wednesday sheds more light on the sixth officer-involved shooting in Las Vegas this year.

Police said a uniformed police officer entered the 7-Eleven at Lake Mead and Jones boulevards shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday to find Lawrence Howard, 19, of Las Vegas and a 17-year-old male robbing the busy store.

"Police. Freeze," the officer told Howard, who had his shirt pulled over his head and a .38-caliber revolver pointed at the store clerk.

Howard turned and pointed the handgun toward the officer. The officer, whose name has not yet been released, fired and hit Howard twice.

Police found the juvenile suspect on the ground behind the counter after Howard fell. Next to the 17-year-old were $202, two rubber gloves and three packs of cigarettes.

Howard was booked in absentia and taken to University Medical Center to be treated for gunshot wounds. There, $140 was recovered from his person. Police are recommending he be charged with robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery and assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon.

After surgery performed Tuesday, Howard was in critical condition.

The store clerk also was treated at the hospital after having difficulty breathing.

The juvenile suspect was taken into custody at the convenience store. Police are recommending he be charged with robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery.

The 17-year-old declined to have a parent present during questioning. He told police he was known at the store, which is why he and Howard entered it with shirts over their heads. He said the two planned to rob the store for cash and cigarettes because they needed money.

Contact Ben Frederickson at
bfrederickson@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5512.