Knife-wielding man to Las Vegas police: ‘Just kill me’
After attacking his father in a drunken rage Sunday, Las Vegas police said, Paul Herron wanted to die.
“Just kill me, just shoot me,” Herron yelled at police, according to public records obtained by the Review-Journal on Tuesday.
James Easterwood, 72, was sitting in his condo in the 3200 block of Liahona Way, near East Harmon Avenue and South Mojave Road, when he heard his son upstairs “damaging his bedroom, yelling and screaming,” an arrest report said.
Herron then charged at Easterwood, raising two large butcher knives and shouting he was going to kill him. Easterwood kicked his son in the chest, and Herron went back upstairs and continued to trash the home.
Easterwood grabbed his cellphone and went outside to call for police.
Las Vegas police officer James Downing, 30, arrived on scene about 2:30 p.m. and confronted Herron on the front lawn, the report said.
Herron was still holding a knife in each hand and ignored orders to drop them, police said. But he kept moving toward the officer.
When he was within 5 yards of Downing, Metro said, the officer opened fire.
Herron was shot in the chest, arm and leg. Officers put handcuffs on him and called for an ambulance.
He was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center for surgery and booked in absentia.
He is facing charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon against a person older than 60 and felony assault with a deadly weapon against a police officer.
Bail for the charges has been set at $40,000 and $20,000, respectively. Herron is scheduled for arraignment this morning.
An update on his condition was not available.
Herron has convictions from California and Arizona related to drug and alcohol abuse.
Downing has been with Metro since January 2007 and is assigned to the southeast area command center’s patrol division.
He has been placed on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a review of this event.
It was the 16th officer-involved shooting in Metro’s jurisdiction this year.
Contact Wesley Juhl at wjuhl@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0391. Find him on Twitter: @WesJuhl.
