Coroner: Fatal shot was self-inflicted

A 30-year-old man shot in the chest by Henderson police over the weekend died from a simultaneous self-inflicted gunshot to the head, an official with the Clark County coroner's office said Tuesday.

Henderson resident James Heitkotter put a rifle barrel in his mouth and shot himself in the head, but he was also wounded by a round fired by a Henderson police officer, Assistant Coroner John Fudenberg said.

Fudenberg said it's "scientifically impossible" to determine which bullet struck Heitkotter first.

Police said Heitkotter shot himself almost simultaneously as the two officers fired at him.

"We know what did cause his death and that was the gunshot wound to the head," Fudenberg said. "The gunshot wound to the chest may or may not have been lethal, meaning, with some medical attention he might have survived the shot. But there is no way for us to determine that."

Police identified the two officers as Raymond Wilkens, 24, and Johnny Flewellen, 32. Wilkens has worked for the Police Department since September 2005, Flewellen since March 2006.

Neither officer had ever been involved in an incident where he fired his weapons on the job, police said. Both were placed on routine paid administrative leave until the investigation is concluded.

Police responded to Heitkotter's residence near College Avenue and East Horizon Drive about 2:20 a.m. Sunday after they received a call from his wife that he was fighting with a male roommate.

Police found Heitkotter sitting alone in an upstairs bedroom with a rifle to his head. They said he ignored officers' demands to put the gun down, and then moved toward the officers, who were in a hallway, with the weapon.

Police spokesman Keith Paul had said Monday that Heitkotter was shot by police in the "shoulder area."

"It's the area I perceived to be the shoulder area," Paul said Tuesday, adding that the coroner's office could provide the most accurate information. "I was trying to put out as much information as I could at the time."

Fudenberg refused Tuesday to say more precisely where on the chest the wound was located, saying the information was confidential.

Police said a second shot that was fired by an officer missed Heitkotter. Paul didn't know which officer fired the bullet that struck Heitkotter.

According to Henderson police policy, officers are restricted from firing their weapons unless it is "reasonably certain that the member's life or that of another person is in imminent danger."

Paul said that when officers use their firearms, they are trained to shoot at the assailant's "center of mass."

Fudenberg said the coroner's office will determine whether to conduct an inquest into the shooting after the agency and police conclude their investigations.