Man confronted by trooper dies after fall off Las Vegas overpass

A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper fired his Taser stun gun at a man who then fell to his death from a freeway overpass Friday morning, a patrol spokesman said.

The trooper confronted the man about 4:30 a.m. on the Las Vegas Beltway overpass at Decatur Boulevard after reports of a pedestrian on the highway, trooper Jeremie Elliott said.

The man was running in the travel lanes of the highway, and when the trooper approached him, he ran away, Elliott said.

The trooper gave chase and fired his Taser because of the risk the man posed to himself and the public, he said.

But the Taser did not make proper contact to paralyze the man, and the man eventually went over a barrier wall and fell to his death, he said.

Investigators were trying to determine whether the man jumped or fell, he said.

"It's not determined whether it was an intentional act or if he was trying to get away from the officer," Elliott said.

Las Vegas police had joined the investigation, which is procedure when the Highway Patrol has an in-custody death or officer-involved shooting.

The incident unfolded about 4:30 a.m.

The westbound Beltway and northbound Decatur were closed for more than four hours while police investigated.

Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0281.