LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Las Vegas Metropolitan police identified the armed man killed in the first police shooting of the year for the department.
Lee Derek Larson, 46, was identified as the armed suspect on Feb. 6, during a news conference on Thursday with police.
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The shooting happened on Sherwood Street near Sahara Avenue, east of Las Vegas Boulevard, around 1:47 a.m. Police were conducting a routine patrol when they saw two people sitting inside a Jeep. As an officer drove past the Jeep, he conducted a U-turn to further investigate. When the officer approached the Jeep he observed Larson driving and then back into an un-occupied parked vehicle causing a crash, police said.
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Larson and a passenger exited the Jeep to assess the damage. The officer directed them both to come over to him. That is when Larson fled from the police. During the pursuit with police Larson pointed a firearm at the chasing officer and observed him run into the alley. Larson refused to drop his firearm and was shot by police.