Coroner’s office identifies burglary suspect killed by police
The burglary suspect who was shot and killed by Las Vegas police Wednesday was 28-year-old Joseph M. Justin of Las Vegas, according to the Clark County coroner's office.
Justin died from multiple gunshot wounds at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, a spokeswoman at the Clark County coroner's office said Thursday.
About 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, a man had called 911 and reported a burglary in progress at a neighbor's home in the 3800 block of Florrie Avenue, near Boulder Highway and Twain Avenue. The caller told police that the suspect was leaving in a white minivan with no license plates.
Las Vegas police responded and tried to stop the minivan as it headed north on Florrie. The vehicle continued traveling north until it crashed into a fence in the 3600 block of Florrie.
According to a statement issued Thursday by police, the driver of the minivan at first tried to flee through the residential area before returning to the vehicle and retrieving a .357-caliber Magnum revolver, which he placed to his head.
When officers told the suspect to drop his weapon, police said, he got out of the minivan and again began to flee. One officer fired his Taser, which struck the suspect in the heel of his shoe but failed to stop him.
"As the suspect attempted to flee the area, he then raised his weapon and pointed it at a female officer, who fired one round at the suspect, striking him," according to the police statement. "A second officer who responded also fired one round, striking the suspect."
Both officers were placed on paid administrative leave. Their names are expected to be released today. Police withhold the names of officers involved in shootings for 48 hours after each shooting, per department policy.
