Henderson police fatally shoot domestic violence suspect - The Henderson Press

SWAT officers kill armed man after two hour standoff in drainage ditch

A 911 assault call led to the shooting death of a domestic battery suspect by Henderson Police Department SWAT officers, early Wednesday, Nov. 7.

 

A 36-year old man was shot following a two hour standoff in in a drainage ditch by three members of the unit when he turned his weapon toward them, according to police spokesman Keith Paul.

The incident began just after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, when a woman dialed emergency dispatch, claiming she had been assaulted by her former boyfriend in the parking lot of a gas station at Eastern Avenue and Serene Avenue.

The woman, who did not require medical attention from the domestic assault, reported the man was carrying a handgun, according to police.

Officers located the man minutes later walking along St. Rose Parkway, near Eastern Avenue.

"The man fled when officers approached him and he fell into a drainage ditch along an enclosed wash," said Paul. "The man pulled out the handgun and pointed it at himself and made suicidal statements."

A two hour standoff ensued, during which time SWAT officers were deployed to the scene. Negotiations to persuade the man to surrender continued into early Wednesday morning.

"At about 1:50 a.m., the man moved the gun that was pointed at his head and aimed it at the officers, placing them in a life-threatening situation forcing them to defend themselves," Paul said. "Three SWAT officers fired, striking the man."

Paramedics rendered medical attention, but the man died on the scene. His weapon, a nine millimeter handgun, was recovered by officers.

The man has a felony conviction record in California for burglary and prison escape, and a larceny conviction in Nevada. At the time of the shooting, he was the subject of an arrest warrant by Nevada Parole and Probation for parole violation.

The officers who fired their weapons have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, which is typical protocol in all officer involved shootings. Their names are officers Tyler Bailey, Justin Dera and Jesse Lujan.

Paul said there is no typical time frame for an officer to return to duty after a deadly use-of-force incident, but the unit would not be short staffed during the process.

This is the first fatal shooting involving the Henderson police since two officers, working with the multi-jurisdictional Criminal Apprehension Team, shot and killed murder suspect Andy Puente Soto, 42, on Boulder Highway July 23.

Henderson's full-time SWAT unit consists of ten men, with six additional officers in other units who can be utilized for SWAT duty. Unit officers stay on around-the-clock duty notice.

Henderson officers often work multi-jurisdictionally on large operations with other Valley SWAT units, and officers say these collaborations are generally effective.

The Henderson SWAT unit typically conducts around 120 operations each year.