A Las Vegas resident recently shot and killed an intruder attempting to break into their home in the morning hours of Thursday, September 26th. Police say the shooting occurred while the homeowner was on the phone with authorities reporting the man had already broken a window and was acting “extremely irrational.”
It was around 7:40 am when the 20-something-year-old resident of the Spring Valley neighborhood in Southwest Las Vegas dialed 911 to report the home was being broken into. Las Vegas Metro Police Department officers rushed to the scene but did not arrive before the dispatcher heard a shot fired.
“As officers were dispatched towards this location, our dispatcher heard a shot being fired over the 911 call, and the people who called 911 relayed that they had just shot the man who had tried to break into their house,” said LVMPD Homicide Lt. Jason Johansson during a news conference later that same day.
According to the police the intruder, who appeared to be in his 30s or 40s, refused to listen to the homeowner’s requests for him to leave. Having already broken out several windows in the front of the home, the man then moved toward the homeowner in the doorway, which led to the shooting.
“As our officers arrived here on scene, they located a male in the driveway of the residence who sustained a gunshot wound…As they treated that male here on scene, medical arrived shortly after, transported him to the emergency medical center where unfortunately he was pronounced deceased,” according to Lt. Johansson.
Police do not believe there is any relationship between the man and the homeowner, who Johansson described as “extremely cooperative.” He also noted that the homeowner had only recently moved into the neighborhood.
Authorities have obtained surveillance video from across the street and continue to investigate the shooting to find out more about the suspect and what he might have been doing in the neighborhood.
“I don’t anticipate an arrest on this incident at this time. As we do with any investigation of this nature, it will go through a review with the Clark County District Attorney’s Office to determine later if charges will be filed,” added Johansson.
Residents voiced concern over the shooting in what used to be a quiet and peaceful area, a familiar sentiment as crime has spilled out of major cities and into suburbs across the country.
“I have cameras up around my house now…I put them up more recently but then I also put up flood lights and stuff just because it makes me a little bit nervous sometimes,” says neighbor Jennifer Sauberan to KLAS 8 News Now.
This incident highlights an increasing need to stay prepared to defend your home and your family, especially near major cities where, ironically, there are more laws restricting law-abiding gun owners. It is important to be aware of local regulations and to take additional steps to defend your home, such as security and monitoring systems which may provide you the evidence you need in the unfortunate event that you find yourself in a situation like this. Cameras, motion detectors, and man’s best friend may be especially useful as an early warning system as well, providing those precious moments you may need in an emergency.
