Suspect in Sunday hostage incident identified
A man shot and killed by police early Monday after holding a woman hostage for 12 hours was convicted of manslaughter in Michigan nearly three decades ago, according to public records.
Michael Dean Chevalier Jr., 48, died from a gunshot wound to the head, according to the Clark County coroner's office. Chevalier was convicted of manslaughter in May 1983 in Genesee County, according to public records.
He had no known criminal record in Clark County. Neither his city of residence nor much else was known about him Tuesday.
Las Vegas police said Chevalier randomly entered a woman's apartment Sunday afternoon at the Sedona Hills complex at 2895 E. Charleston Blvd., near Fremont Street. Patrol officers went to the apartment but backed off after they noticed the man had a gun.
Capt. Patrick Neville said officers were negotiating with the man to leave the apartment when he fired several shots at a sedan entering the parking lot.
Neville said the suspect thought the sedan was an undercover police vehicle. It was being driven by a 21-year-old man with his teenage siblings inside. No one in the sedan was harmed.
After the man began shooting, officers fired several shots at him.
SWAT officers were called to the scene and began a 12-hour negotiation with the man, Neville said. About 4:30 a.m. Monday, SWAT entered the apartment. The suspect fired at police. One officer returned fire with a single shot, fatally striking the man.
The officers involved in the shooting have not been identified. The hostage, described as being in her late 20s or early 30s, was taken to University Medical Center. Police said she was recovering.
