LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Las Vegas Metropolitan Police described a hectic and dangerous miles long police pursuit in a press briefing Tuesday where Assistant Sheriff Andrew Walsh detailed suspect Justin Venagas's attempted car jackings and shootouts with police the week prior.
Walsh said Venegas had been the suspect in a May 20 carjacking and was under covert surveillance from a Metro helicopter Thursday evening when he carjacked a white Chevy Avalanche at gunpoint.
The air unit recorded the encounter and a police chase began.
Walsh said an unmarked police cruiser was disabled when it collided with the rear of the stolen car near N 5th and Carey, and the officer in that car was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
#NOW: Metro is preparing for an update on Thursday’s officer involved shooting.
— @SeanKTNV (@seanktnv) August 16, 2022
We’ll be steaming live @KTNV.
I’ll be tweeting information in this 🧵: pic.twitter.com/LqjHy1NlH7
Another unit with two officers attempted a PIT maneuver on Venegas's car near 5th and Craig, but Walsh said Venegas fired toward the officer's car striking the windshield.
One of those officers returned fire through his windshield and no rounds struck Venegas's truck.
Police say they’re currently in a vehicle pursuit with the person involved in this.
Keep your eyes peeled if you’re out on the streets and stay safe.@KTNV https://t.co/NyHv470Bg7— @SeanKTNV (@seanktnv) August 12, 2022
Please avoid the following areas related to this incident:
— LVMPD (@LVMPD) August 12, 2022
Road closures:
W Craig Rd / North 5th St - entire intersection
S Decatur Blvd between W Oakey Blvd and W Charleston Blvd - northbound and southbound
W Desert Inn Rd between S Jones Blvd & Duneville St - all directions
Walsh said Venegas then blocked a car on the roadway on Desert Inn and Jones, and attempted to steal the car from a woman at gunpoint.
Video from the Metro helicopter showed Venegas firing towards the woman as she backed away from his attempt to reach her driver door.
Walsh said Venegas was able to chase down the stolen car he'd left in drive and continue the pursuit to Desert Inn and Decatur where police said he, again, failed to carjack a man.
Walsh said Venegas got back into his stolen car, drove toward officers, and several officers fired toward the vehicle.
No rounds hit the suspect, and he continued the chase North toward Charleston and Decatur where his Chevy hit a K-9 police cruiser head on injuring the officer behind the wheel.
"He's banged up pretty good," Walsh said. "You get hit head on by someone trying to kill you at 67 miles an hour, we're very fortunate that we're not burying that officer, or the officers that were shot at."
That officer was taken to UMC Trauma and later released to recover at home.
The police K-9, Boris, was not injured in the crash.
Venegas has been charged with multiple felonies including three counts of attempted murder of a police officer and one count of attempted murder.
This is the 7th OIS of the year, up from 5 at this time last year.
