Metro officer wounded in shooting at U.S. 95 and Charleston

A Las Vegas police officer was shot when his gun went off during a struggle with a person said to be suicidal at U.S. Highway 95 and Charleston Boulevard around rush hour early Friday evening, the Metropolitan Police Department said.

Citing a preliminary investigation, Metro Capt. Joshua Martinez said the wounded officer and a second officer who was in a crash while rushing to the scene were hospitalized in stable condition.

The wounded officer, who was shot once, was taken to University Medical Center, police said.

The officer had responded shortly before 5 p.m. to reports of a person running into traffic, Martinez said.

The officer chased him and took him down, Martinez said. He said the officer’s gun went off during a struggle.

Martinez said it was too early to know how the gun went off. A second officer on the scene took the suicidal man into custody.

It’s not clear what, if any, charges the man might be facing.

Noting the area was busy during the time of the shooting, Martinez said police were seeking to speak with possible witnesses.

Witnesses were asked to call Metro at 702-828-3111.

Additional details were not immediately available.

If you are thinking about suicide, or are worried about a loved one or friend, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting the Lifeline network at 988. Live chat is available at 988lifeline.org.