LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — At least one Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officer was involved in a shooting near downtown Las Vegas on Monday evening, the department announced.
According to LVMPD, at approximately 5:22 p.m. dispatch received a call of a burglary in progress to a mobile home located in the 2000 block of Palm Street. The person reporting was inside of the residence and advised the suspect was armed with a handgun.
Captain Carlos Hank said officers made contact with the suspect at the rear of the trailer who was still holding a firearm. Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation by giving him multiple verbal commands to lower the weapon, but he refused. During the interaction, the suspect pointed the handgun at officers. Multiple officers fired their service weapons at the suspect, striking him. The suspect was transported to UMC Trauma where he was pronounced deceased by medical personnel.
According to an update from LVMPD, the officers involved in the shooting have been identified as James Villareal, Johnathan Cole, and Beau Cooley.
LVMPD says Officer Villareal is 27 years old, Officer Cole is 25 years old, and Officer Cooley is 31 years old. These officers have been employed with the LVMPD since 2019. They are assigned to the Tourist Safety Division, Downtown Area Command. The officers have been placed on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a review of this incident.
Investigators were staged near the 2000 block of Palm Street, northeast of Fremont Street and Sahara Avenue. LVMPD says this is the fifth officer involved shooting investigation of 2022.
LVMPD says this is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with any information about this incident is urged to contact the LVMPD Force Investigation Team at 702-828-8452. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 702-385-5555, or on the internet at www.crimestoppersofnv.com
