Man who survived police shooting jumps to death in Laughlin

A 49-year-old man who was shot at by a Las Vegas police officer in early June jumped to his death from the balcony of the Riverside Hotel & Casino in Laughlin this week.

Thomas Lange, of Las Vegas, was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Clark County coroner’s office.

Lange, who had been charged with one count of assault on a police officer by the Clark County district attorney’s office, was out on bail at the time of his death.

He is alleged to have thrown softball-size rocks at police on June 4 in at an east Las Vegas apartment complex just moments before another officer arrived on scene, then fired at him, missing him twice.

Lange’s mother called 911 to notify police that her son was suicidal and was at an apartment complex at 3040 E. Charleston Blvd., near Mojave Road, according to Undersheriff Jim Dixon.

Dixon said officer Daniel Perry, who responded to the scene as backup, mistook Lange’s dark cellphone as a gun, then shot at him.

Contact reporter Tom Ragan at tragan@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5512.