Two people shot by off-duty CCSD officer

An off-duty Clark County School District police officer shot and wounded two men Saturday after he witnessed a shooting at a busy intersection in the east valley.

Gas station employee Joe Sullivan saw the initial shooting, which happened at about 1:30 p.m. at Sahara and Eastern avenues, but did not witness the subsequent police shooting.

He said two men were walking together on the sidewalk near a Jiffy Lube on Sahara when one man began firing a handgun at the other.

Sullivan, who works at a Western Petroleum garage next door to the Jiffy Lube, said the man fired about four or five shots.

The second man ran from the shooter, briefly entering the gas station store for cover before running north on Eastern.

"At first he was running right toward me. I heard the one shot and I fell to the ground and said, 'No way.'

"The cashier says, 'What are you doing out there?' He looked at her, couldn't speak nothing and ran," Sullivan said.

The fleeing man did not appear to be injured -- simply frightened, he said.

"It almost looked like a drug deal gone bad," he said.

Capt. Patrick Neville, who oversees the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's Robbery and Homicide bureau, said the shooter then ran south across Sahara to an El Pollo Loco restaurant parking lot, where a dark blue Kia sedan waited for him with two men inside.

A CCSD police officer was in a vehicle parked at a red light on Sahara when he heard the shots, Neville said. The officer, who was on his day off and in a civilian car, saw the shooter running across the street and gave chase.

Neville said the officer repeatedly identified himself as police and told the suspect to drop his weapon. The suspect, who was attempting to enter the sedan, reportedly then pointed the gun at the officer.

The officer fired multiple times, striking the suspect and another man inside the sedan, Neville said. The vehicle then fled the scene.

The officer was not injured, and was placed on routine administrative leave pending completion of the investigation. His name will be released in 48 hours. Police do not believe any shots were fired at the officer.

The two injured men were later taken into custody by Las Vegas police after they sought medical attention at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, Neville said. Neither had life-threatening injuries and will likely be arrested after questioning from detectives.

Police are reviewing surveillance video from the El Pollo Loco, he said.

The third man in the blue Kia sedan fled the hospital after dropping off the injured men. Police are attempting to locate the vehicle and the driver, as well as the man who fled the crime scene after being shot at. Police do not know if either was wounded in the melee.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Section at 828-3521, or to remain anonymous, call CrimeStoppers at 385-5555.

Police said witnesses at the Jiffy Lube were not helpful.

A Jiffy Lube employee confirmed that, saying "Man, we not talking to you! We don't even talk to the police."

His manager confirmed that.

"We can't give any statements," he said.

Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.