In Brief
February 15, 2009 - 10:00 pm
JAYWALKING STOP
Police shoot, kill man carrying gun
A man was shot and killed by Las Vegas police officers downtown early Saturday.
Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman Barbara Morgan said an officer stopped the man for jaywalking about 4:40 a.m. at 11th and Fremont streets.
The officer saw the man had a gun at his side that appeared to be a black semi-automatic, Morgan said.
The man didn't follow the officer's commands, and the officer called for backup.
For about 10 to 15 minutes, officers continued issuing commands to the man until he went into a kneeling position to fire his gun, Morgan said.
Officers then opened fire. The wounded man was taken to University Medical Center, where he died.
Police did not release his name or age.
Names of the officers involved in the shooting will be released 48 hours after the time of the shooting, according to department policy.
ARMED CONFRONTATION
California police shooting justified
The district attorney in Lake County, Calif., says the police shooting death of a man in June was justified.
An investigation into the death of 63-year-old David Clinton Vestal found that Vestal was pointing a shotgun at Clearlake Police Officer Michael Hansen.
Vestal's family has alleged in a lawsuit filed in federal court that the shooting was not justified.
The June 30 shooting at a mobile home park occurred after four officers responded to reports of a fight. The officers found Vestal's daughter with a bloody face and swollen eye .
Prosecutors say Hansen used a stun gun on one man who exited the trailer before Vestal appeared and pointed a shotgun at an officer. They said that officer took cover and Vestal then pointed the gun at Hansen, who fired his gun after warning Vestal to drop it.