Suspect in custody, neighbor OK after officer-involved shooting, hostage situation in south valley

A man is uninjured and in custody after holding a neighbor hostage in a south valley home at gunpoint for more than five hours early Tuesday after a shootout with Las Vegas police.

Officers were initially called about 10 a.m. to a domestic disturbance at 7726 S. Coral Cactus Court, near Decatur Boulevard and Robindale Road, Metropolitan Police Department dispatch records show.

Arriving officers were confronted by a man with a rifle, who then fired several shots at officers, Metro spokeswoman Laura Meltzer said. It’s unclear whether any words or commands were exchanged before shots rang out, but no officers were injured as one returned fire.

Police will name the officer who returned fire on Thursday, per department protocol.

The man, who retreated into a neighbor’s home after the shootout, remained there and held the neighbor inside at gunpoint until surrendering to officers about 3:30 p.m., police said. SWAT negotiators had spoken with the man during the barricade in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.

The neighbor who was held hostage was not injured.

Police did not say who made the initial 911 call or what happened during the domestic disturbance, but Metro Capt. John McGrath did say late Tuesday that responding officers knew about an agitated, armed man upon arrival.

While the man held the neighbor hostage, he shot at officers a second time, McGrath added. Officers were not injured and did not return fire during the second spray of bullets.

Earlier in the afternoon, at least two buses carrying about 70 students from Desert Oasis High School were sent back to campus to avoid the barricade situation, Clark County School District spokesman David Roddy said.

Parents were informed of the situation and asked to pick up their students from campus, Roddy said. One bus from Southwest Career and Technical Academy carrying five students was also sent back to campus.

“The students are safe and OK,” Roddy said Tuesday afternoon.

During the barricade, Decatur was closed in both directions between Warm Springs Road and Robindale, but the street was reopened a few hours after the man surrendered.

Coral Cactus Court, where the shooting occurred, was still shut down as of 6:30 p.m. but was expected to reopen late Tuesday.

McGrath did not name the man arrested or confirm what charges he may face but did say the man would be booked at the Clark County Detention Center late Tuesday.

Metro is expected to release more details about the incident Friday during a media briefing. This was the department’s ninth officer-involved shooting this year.

Review-Journal Reporter Wesley Juhl contributed to this report. Contact Lawren Linehan at llinehan@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0381. Follow @lawrenlinehan on Twitter. Contact Rachel Crosby at rcrosby@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290. Follow @rachelacrosby on Twitter.