Police: Officer who shot man pulling knife identified

The Las Vegas police officer who shot and wounded a 36-year-old man in a mobile home park Friday has been identified as Sgt. John Pelletier.

Pelletier has been with the Metropolitan Police Department since July 1999. He is assigned to the patrol division of the Northeast Area Command.

He was one of two officers who responded to a call about a gun-wielding man at 3825 N. Nellis Blvd., south of Las Vegas Boulevard North near Nellis Air Force Base, about 8 p.m. Friday.

When the officers approached Ernest Charles Gibbs, police said he reached for an object under his shirt. Pelletier then fired shots and wounded the man.

Gibbs was reaching for a large Bowie-type knife, police said. He was taken to University Medical Center for treatment. Gibbs is charged with assault with a deadly weapon and felony resisting arrest. His criminal history in Las Vegas includes convictions for being an ex-felon possessing a firearm and attempted burglary.

The incident was the department’s 11th shooting involving an officer this year.