This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/02/las-vegas-police-shoot-kill-suspect-holding-cellphone

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Las Vegas police fatally shoot suspect holding a cellphone mistaken for a gun Las Vegas police fatally shoot suspect holding a cellphone mistaken for a gun
(about 1 hour later)
A suspect in an attempted murder who was fatally shot by Las Vegas police was holding a cellphone that was mistaken for a gun during the deadly confrontation, authorities said in a statement. Authorities on Saturday identified a suspect in an attempted murder who was fatally shot by Las Vegas police officers after they mistook his cellphone for a gun.
The shooting occurred on Thursday as the officers were assisting US marshals in arresting the man who was accused of multiple violent felonies in Arizona, including attempted murder. The name of the man has not been released. The Clark County office of the coroner said 23-year-old Keith Childress Jr died from multiple gunshot wounds. It ruled his death a homicide.
Las Vegas police said in the statement issued on Friday that the man had been under surveillance and fled from federal authorities who then called Las Vegas police for help in the search. The shooting occurred on Thursday as the officers were assisting US marshals in arresting Childress, who is accused of multiple violent felonies in Arizona.
The man was found outside a home west of downtown. Police said his right hand held what they believed to be a firearm. Police said Childress was found outside a home and his right hand held what they believed to be a firearm. Officers told him to drop his weapon but say he began advancing toward them.
Officers told him to drop the gun and ordered him to stop when he began to move toward them. Police said two officers opened fire when he didn’t obey their commands. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two officers opened fire.
Police said the man was actually holding a cellphone. Childress was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police spokesman officer Larry Hadfield said no officers, agents or bystanders were injured. Las Vegas police said in a statement issued on Friday that the man, then unidentified, had been under surveillance and fled from federal authorities who then called Las Vegas police for help in the search.
Police captain Matt McCarthy of the department’s office of internal oversight and constitutional policing said the officers shot at the man because the confrontation was in a residential area and involved a man wanted for attempted murder who they thought was holding a gun. He was found outside a home west of downtown. Police spokesman officer Larry Hadfield said no officers, agents or bystanders were injured in the shooting that ensued.
Police captain Matt McCarthy of the department’s office of internal oversight and constitutional policing said the officers shot because the confrontation was in a residential area and involved a man wanted for attempted murder who they thought was holding a gun.
“The suspect did not listen, quickly began to advance on the officers, concealing his right hand, which the officers believed was holding a firearm,” McCarthy said in a video message that accompanied the police statement.“The suspect did not listen, quickly began to advance on the officers, concealing his right hand, which the officers believed was holding a firearm,” McCarthy said in a video message that accompanied the police statement.
The two officers who shot him haven’t been identified but they are expected to be named soon in line with department policy. The two officers who shot Childress have not been identified but they are expected to be named soon, in line with department policy.
It was the 16th shooting in which an officer opened fire or was shot at in 2015 in the Las Vegas area.It was the 16th shooting in which an officer opened fire or was shot at in 2015 in the Las Vegas area.