Police: Man points gun, is shot

A man who pointed a shotgun at Metropolitan Police Department officers was struck by gunfire Sunday afternoon near Desert Inn and Sandhill roads, police said.

Sgt. John Sheahan said the incident occurred at 2:27 p.m. after officers received a call about a dispute between neighbors at 141 Greenbriar Townhouse Way. Sheahan said police were notified that a suspect was at his front door, firing a shotgun at his neighbor.

Sheahan said when police arrived at the home, two officers noticed shell casings on the ground. The suspect then opened the door, holding a shotgun.

Sheahan said officers commanded the man to "drop the shotgun," but instead he raised it at the officers. That's when two officers fired their weapons.

Sheahan said the man, described only as white and in his 30s, was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition.

Police are also investigating a report the suspect pointed the shotgun at another neighbor before the shooting.

The two officers who fired their weapons will be placed on paid administrative leave. Their names will be released 48 hours after the shooting in accordance with department policy.

The neighborhood where the shooting occurred had a heavy police presence Sunday night. Marked and unmarked police cars along with crime-scene tape blocked off the entrance of the townhouse community.

A neighbor reached by phone who asked not to be identified said he encountered the suspect shortly before police arrived.

The neighbor said he was about to blow leaves onto the street when a man drove up in what appeared to be a two-door Honda emblazoned with an Oakland Raiders logo. There were two other men in the car; one of them was drinking a Budweiser.

The neighbor said the man parked in the street and was upset that the neighbor's car was parked along the side of the garage, instead of in it. The man then got out of his car.

" 'I live here, why do you park your car here?'" the neighbor recalls the man saying.

The neighbor said the man, who appeared drunk, kept complaining about people parking their cars next to their garages. He then got back into the car and drove away, but not before one of the men in the car told the neighbor to call police.

"He was big," the neighbor said. "I felt threatened. ... I didn't know at the time if he had a gun, but that's what I was thinking."

The neighbor said that about 15 minutes later he heard several gunshots nearby.

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