Man shot by Las Vegas police implicated in earlier shooting
A man fatally shot by Las Vegas police last week has been connected to another shooting about an hour before his death.
Police said ballistics tests link Mauricio Hernandez, 23, to the March 8 shooting of a man in the 4300 block of Stockbridge Street, near Lake Mead and Lamb boulevards.
Police said the shooting occurred at 7:34 p.m. when a man was shot in his garage by an unknown Hispanic man in his 20s. The victim was taken to University Medical Center with nonlife threatening injuries.
About an hour later, Hernandez was shot and killed by Sgt. David Toney, 44, at The Bar, 1987 N. Nellis Blvd., near East Lake Mead Boulevard. Police said Toney was making a routine patrol check at the bar when he encountered Hernandez.
Police said Hernandez saw Toney and fired at him without warning. Toney fired back. Hernandez died at the scene.
Because Hernandez matched the suspect description from the first shooting, which happened less than two miles from the bar, police initially suspected Hernandez. That was unconfirmed until Wednesday.
Investigators are still trying to determine why Hernandez shot the man in the garage.
Toney has been placed on paid administrative leave. He has been with the department since 1999 .
Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.
