Las Vegas police name officer who shot unarmed man Monday

The Las Vegas police officer who shot an unarmed man Monday night was identified Thursday.

Jason Evans, 29, shot and wounded a man about 10:30 p.m. at a 7-Eleven near Nellis Boulevard and Stewart Avenue.

Police said Evans believed the man was the suspect in a pair of Sunday killings at the Pacific Harbors Sunrise apartments, near Sahara Avenue and Nellis.

Police said Evans told the man to put his hands in the air, but he hid his right arm as he backed away from the officer, police said. Evans felt threatened and fired at the man, hitting him in the stomach.

The man was released from the hospital, but has not been identified. He was not a suspect in Sunday’s homicide investigation.

Evans was placed on routine, paid administrative leave pending an investigation into his actions.

Monday’s incident was the 11th Las Vegas police shooting this year and the third involving an unarmed suspect.

Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com. Follow @blasky on Twitter.