A Las Vegas police officer shot an armed robber attempting to flee the scene last weekend. The incident is still under investigation, but newly released body camera and aerial footage shows the officer was justified in pulling the trigger. Watch the video above to see what we mean.
Las Vegas Police Officer-Involved Shooting
A LVMPD press release says that on June 9 at around 10:48 p.m., officers were surveilling 38-year-old Shan Kittredge, a man believed to be responsible for eight armed robberies over the previous two weeks. When Kittredge stopped at a gas station, officers stormed in and tried to take him into custody.
The officers moved their vehicles in front of and behind Kittredge’s car to block his escape. They then told him to get down on the ground. Kittredge initially complied, but then—as the body camera footage shows—he jumped back up and got into his vehicle. He then put the car in reverse, hitting a patrol vehicle and nearly hitting a K9 officer.
That’s when Sgt. Joseph Emery allegedly saw Kittredge raise a gun and aim it at officers. In response, Emery discharged his duty gun, striking Kittredge five times. Assistant Sheriff Brett Zimmerman said Kittredge was hit twice in the arm, once in the upper shoulder, and “he may have taken a wound to the side of the head, but not fatal, and I think he had one in the neck.”
Medical personnel arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. Kittredge was transported to an area hospital, where he is currently in stable condition. Police found a 9mm Taurus pistol inside his car.
In addition, a female passenger in the front seat of Kittredge’s vehicle was also arrested.
The Suspect & The Officer
Zimmerman said Kittredge has a rap sheet that includes charges of battery, possession of a credit card without the owner’s sent; possession of a controlled substance; possession of a dangerous weapon; and trafficking a controlled substance. When police arrested him, Kittredge also had active warrants for robbery and battery out on him.
Emery is a 28-year veteran of the Las Vegas Metro Police Department. Furthermore, he has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the shooting.
“The scene was very dynamic, this was a very violent individual,” Zimmerman said. “With the gun pointed at another detective, [Emery] felt he had to take action at that time. It was a split-second decision.”
“It raises the hairs on the back of your neck; it’s such a dangerous situation,” Zimmerman added with regard to the body cam footage. “But they have a job to do and they go in and they do it heroically, just like these guys did.”
