Before shooting, Las Vegas officers thought man’s vape pen was a knife, official says

A carjacking suspect shot by a Las Vegas police officer in the central valley while holding a vape pen that officers initially believed was a knife was ordered held on bail Wednesday.

Wade Griffith, 38, was shot once by Officer Patrick Natali before Griffith surrendered to police near the entrance of the Bella Vita apartments, in the 5100 block of Indian River Drive near West Flamingo Road and South Decatur Boulevard, Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren told reporters during a briefing at Metro’s headquarters.

Police said that after Sunday’s shooting, Griffith was transported to a hospital in critical condition. Koren said Tuesday that Griffith’s condition had stabilized.

Griffith now faces charges of attempted robbery, burglary, resisting a public officer and battery on a protected person, according to Las Vegas Justice Court online records.

Griffith appeared Wednesday before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Harmony Letizia, and he is being held on $160,000 bail, court records show.

Body camera video played at the briefing shows Natali and another officer identified as Natali’s partner — the officer’s name wasn’t released — struggling with Griffith. Natali and his partner “got (Griffith) to the ground,” police said in a press release issued Tuesday.

“He has a knife!” the other officer says in the video as the struggle continues.

Seconds later, Natali fires one shot from his 9 mm handgun at Griffith.

“Believing Griffith was attempting to stab him, Officer Natali drew his firearm and fired one round, striking Griffith,” Koren said Tuesday.

The body camera footage captured the dramatic sequence of events.

“Drop the knife,” Natali shouts at Griffith as Griffith continues to walk away. “Get on the ground, now!”

Griffith then gets down on the ground, the video shows.

Officer punched in the face

Koren said officers received a report at 12:26 p.m. of an attempted robbery and carjacking from inside the complex.

One alleged victim was driving in the complex when Griffith approached the person’s vehicle and said “he was going to take it,” Koren said. The person drove off after Griffith pulled a knife from his backpack and struck the vehicle, Koren added.

Griffith continued through the complex and approached a group of people who were repairing a car in the parking lot, Koren said. Griffith demanded one of them give him a vehicle, pulled out a knife, and later left to go toward the front of the complex.

“He’s gonna hurt somebody, man,” a man said in a 911 call, according to audio played at Tuesday’s briefing.

The first officer on the scene began giving verbal commands to Griffith, who ignored them and walked toward the officer, Koren said. The officer, whose name wasn’t released, tried to arrest Griffith but was punched in the face by Griffith, according to Koren.

Natali arrived moments later and also began issuing to commands to Griffith, Koren said. Natali and his partner then tried to take Griffith into custody and that’s when the shooting happened.

It was the fifth shooting involving a Metro officer this year, Koren said. That’s compared with 13 at the same time in 2024, Koren said.

Police: Mental health history

Though Koren noted that Griffith was wielding a vape pen when he was shot, officers obtained a search warrant for a bag Griffith was carrying at the time of the shooting, which revealed a “large knife” and the sheath for a second knife police have still not found. Koren said Griffith either lived at the apartment complex or nearby.

Koren said Griffith has a history of criminal activity and “crisis intervention” episodes involving law enforcement, but did not elaborate.

“I do know he had prior history that indicates there were likely some mental health issues that he was dealing with,” Koren said.

Contact Casey Harrison at charrison@reviewjournal.com. Follow @casey-harrison.bsky.social on Bluesky.