The Nevada Highway Patrol on Monday released body camera video showing troopers fatally shooting an armed driver as he aimed his gun at an...
The Nevada Highway Patrol on Monday released body camera video showing troopers fatally shooting an armed driver as he aimed his gun at another motorist after an alcohol-fueled road-rage incident.
The deadly officer-involved shooting took place last Thursday outside a Highway Patrol substation in the Las Vegas suburb of Jean.
During a press conference on Monday, NHP Lt. Col. Daniel Solow told reporters the suspect, identified as 51-year-old James Pease, was drunk when he got behind the wheel of his pickup truck and began pursuing another man, whom he suspected of following him.
The Nevada Highway Patrol on Monday released this body camera video showing a deadly officer-involved shooting that took place outside a substation in Jean on May 7
Two troopers opened fire on an armed driver after he aimed his gun at another man
Pease's victim was familiar with the area and led him to the Highway Patrol substation parking lot on South Las Vegas Boulevard.
Suspect James Pease, 51 (pictured), a Gulf War veteran, was pronounced dead at the scene
There, Troopers Sean Dobbins and Jared Ramm confronted Pease.
Body camera video captured the moment Pease drew his loaded .40 caliber handgun, for which he had a valid concealed carry license, and pointed it at the victim.
That is when the troopers opened fire on Pease, fatally injuring him.
According to the NHP, the incident began unfolding at 2pm when Pease arrived at his friend's house in Sandy Valley.
Pease, who had been drinking earlier that day, 'seemed angry about current events, and was carrying his fire arm with him,' Lt Col Solow said during the press conference.
Pease left his friend's house sometime between 4-40pm that afternoon after being told to go home and 'sleep it off.'
About two hours later, a driver called 911 reporting that Pease was holding him at gunpoint on State Route 161.
Pease was described as standing in the road and pointing his gun at the other motorist, whom he did not know.
Bodycam video captured Pease, who had been drinking, drawing his loaded gun in front of troopers standing outside the NHP substation
Troopers reportedly ordered Pease to drop his weapon, but he refused
Pease is seen aiming his gun at the driver of another truck that he had been chasing
'The victim made a statement to the effect that the suspect, when he pointed the weapon at him initially, stated that he thought the victim was following him for some reason, and that’s why he responded the way he did,' Solow said.
At one point, Pease became distracted, allowing the victim to flee, but the intoxicated gunman then got back in his black Ford pickup truck and gave chase, which came to an end at the NHP substation in Jean.
There, Pease pulled over in front of two troopers who were standing outside and prevented the victim from entering the parking lot.
According to Solow, Pease ignored commands from the troopers to drop his weapon and aimed at the victim, prompting both officers to open fire on him.
The troopers took Pease into custody and attempted to render first aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
NHP Troopers Sean Dobbins (left) and Jared Ramm (right) opened fire on Pease after he refused to stand down and lower his gun
Pease had a valid concealed carry license for this .40 caliber handgun, which was recovered at the scene
None of the troopers or the victim were injured during the standoff.
Troopers Dobbins and Ramm, who have served with the NHP for three yeas, have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an Internal Affairs investigation into the fatal officer-involved shooting.
Solow said Pease was a Gulf War veteran who had worked for Clark County School District for three years. He had no prior criminal history.
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