Fugitive killed in shootout

A shootout between police and a fugitive in central Las Vegas on Wednesday evening left an officer wounded and the suspect dead, authorities said.

The Las Vegas police officer, whose name was not released, was shot in the leg as he chased the fugitive. He was undergoing surgery late Wednesday at University Medical Center and was expected to quickly recover.

Capt. Randy Montandon of the Metropolitan Police Department said officers were assisting U.S. marshals in their effort to arrest two suspects who were "armed and dangerous" and wanted for robbery in California.

Police saw the suspects driving about 6:20 p.m. Montandon did not specify where the suspects were spotted, but police had a heavy presence near Eastern and St. Louis avenues.

Montandon said a marked police car attempted to pull over the two suspects, but they sped off. The suspects crashed their car a short time later and fled on foot in different directions with officers pursuing them.

"They knew they were wanted. And they weren't going to be stopped by police," Montandon said.

One of the suspects shot at an officer, hitting him in the leg. Police returned fire, killing the suspect, police said.

The other suspect was arrested shortly after, Montandon said.

Police did not release the names of the two fugitives.

It was unknown whether the officer who was shot was the officer who shot and killed the fugitive.

Sheriff Doug Gillespie, who went to UMC to visit the wounded officer, said the officer could be released from the hospital late Wednesday, or within a few days.

"Anytime I get notified that a police officer was injured in the line of duty, it always leaves an uneasy feeling," Gillespie said. "You always have that empty feeling of not knowing if they're going to be OK."

Immediately after the shooting, police blocked off Eastern Avenue for a few blocks and some streets in the adjacent neighborhoods of older ranch-style homes.

A police helicopter swept a spotlight over the area.

Montandon said police had to take precautions because the fugitives were in the area.

"We had a lot of manpower to bear on them, because we had two dangerous individuals we were trying to apprehend," he said.

Kris Novick, 26, was in his backyard when he heard sirens coming from both directions on Eastern.

"I heard cop cars, ambulances and a helicopter," he said. "I had to come see what was going on."

When Novick learned that a police officer was shot, he said, "That's not too comforting."

Novick said the commotion caused by the shooting was uncommon because a lot of police patrol the area.

In October, three Las Vegas police officers were shot by a man who caused a three-hour standoff while shooting at police from a second-story apartment on Twain Avenue near Paradise Road. None of the officers was seriously injured.

The man who caused the standoff was alleged to have been drinking and high on crack. He was arrested and charged with six counts of attempted murder.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-4638.