15-year-old burglary suspect shot dead after firing gun at police

NORTH LAS VEGAS (KTNV) – North Las Vegas police officers investigating a series of reported car break-ins shot and killed the suspected burglar, a 15-year-old boy, early Wednesday morning.

Officials with the North Las Vegas Police Department said the teenager raised a handgun and fired at officers when he was confronted in a neighborhood near Valley Drive and Washburn Road.

Police began their investigation around 12:30 a.m. in the 5200 block of Styers Street, where they said several car break-ins had been reported.

At around 2:55 a.m., police received another report of a vehicle break-in in the 5100 block of Rocky Bluff Street, very close to where the first break-ins had occurred.

“The owner of the vehicle described the suspect as a young black male wearing dark clothing,” police said in an initial press release about the shooting.

About 10 minutes later, at 3:04 a.m., two police officers in the 4300 block of Matinee Avenue saw a person “matching the previously reported description,” officers wrote.

“When officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, he immediately raised a handgun and fired at officers,” officials said. “This action prompted an officer to fire his service weapon at the suspect.”

After this first exchange of gunfire, the teenager ran away, according to police, and was pursued by officers for a short distance, “during which another exchange of gunfire occurred between the suspect and the two officers.”

“During the exchange of gunfire, the suspect was struck in the arm and surrendered to officers,” officials said.

To stop the bleeding before medical personnel arrived at the scene, police placed a tourniquet on the teenager's arm.

The teenager was taken to University Hospital for treatment of his injury, which was described as non-life-threatening. He is expected to be arrested after being released from the hospital.

Investigators believe the 15-year-old was involved in at least eight car break-ins before police caught him.

“This investigation is still in its early stages and more information will be released as it becomes available,” the NLVPD said.

This is the third police-involved shooting for the North Las Vegas Police Department in 2024.