Clark County DA: December fatal police shooting justified

A December fatal police shooting was was justified, the Clark County district attorney’s office has determined.

Patrick Heki was shot and killed on Dec. 7 when he pointed his weapon at a Las Vegas police officer, prompting officers to shoot back, according to the district attorney’s office.

Officers Paul Kunz, 28, Justin Marzec, 29, and Joshua Giese, 28, were responding to a call at the home of Heki’s parents, 3950 S. Mountain Vista St., about 2 a.m. when they heard gunshots.

Heki emerged carrying a .40-caliber Glock pistol in one hand and two rifles slung over his shoulders. Kunz ordered him to drop the guns, police said, but Heki pointed one at him.

Kunz, Marzec and Giese fired at the same time.

Heki was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he died less than an hour later.

Authorities’ version of the story differed from what Heki’s father told the Review-Journal hours after the death.

Dan Unger said his son obeyed police, crouching slowly and placing the pistol on the sidewalk with his hands in full view.

The district attorney’s office said Wednesday the officers acted lawfully and would not face prosecution.

“The police officers were confronted with a dangerous situation and a real threat of deadly force,” District Attorney Steve Wolfson said in a news release. “It appears the decedent was long-troubled. It is tragic that his life ended as it did.”

Contact reporter Kimberly De La Cruz at 702-383-0381, kdelacruz@reviewjournal.com or on Twitter @KimberlyinLV.