Man in fatal NLV cop shooting had toxic level of meth in system

A 34-year-old man shot and killed by a North Las Vegas police officer in July had a lethal dose of methamphetamine in his system when he died, a detective testified Friday.

But even with toxic levels of meth in his system, Kenneth Alan Johnson’s cause of death was gunshot wounds.

The officer who shot him fired 14 rounds, hitting him seven times, according to a fact-finding review of his death.

Johnson died July 18 after an early morning police chase, North Las Vegas police detective Benjamin Owens said. Johnson had been on a moped headed east on Ann Road in a right-turn-only lane when he drove through the intersection of Camino Al Norte about 1:30 a.m.

Officers tried to pull him over, Owens said, but Johnson didn’t stop.

Police chased him, at first in patrol cars, but then he ditched the moped in front of a house in the 700 block of Rio Royal Way, near the intersection of Tropical Parkway and Revere Street, and ran.

He lead officers, on foot, through back yards and down residential streets.

Eventually Johnson pulled a pellet gun that resembled a black semi-automatic weapon and turned toward the approaching officers.

Officer Robert Makinster fired, striking Johnson, who later died at University Medical Center.

The chase lasted 18 minutes, Owens said. Police recovered a second pellet gun in a brown bag that they said Johnson tried to dump while being chased.

When asked why Makinster fired 14 times, Owens said he didn’t know.

Makinster also shot a man in March 2013. He was at home and had threatened suicide. Police said he fired at them when they arrived. Makinster returned fire and hit the man, who survived.

Clark County court records show Johnson’s criminal record dates back to 1999. He was convicted on numerous felonies, including theft and evading police.

At the time of his death, Johnson had a bench warrant out for a misdemeanor 2013 drug conviction. He had been on the run since April, according to court documents.

Johnson’s death was the second of four officer-involved-shooting for North Las Vegas police in 2014.

Fact-finding reviews happen after a police-involved shooting results in a death and after the Clark County district attorney’s office decides officers won’t face criminal charges. The process replaced the coroner’s inquest in January 2013.

An ombudsman represent’s the public and the family of the person killed. The DA’s office presents evidence and witnesses, but only for information. No decision is made.

Contact reporter Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. Find him on Twitter: @ColtonLochhead.