Body-camera footage Las Vegas police released Monday showed a knife-wielding suspect rush toward an officer before the officer opened fire in southeast Las Vegas.
Ricardo Antonio Otero, 30, died Thursday at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center after he was shot four times by officer Jason Guerra, Clark County Assistant Sheriff John McGrath said.
John McGrath held a news conference Monday afternoon to release details of the deadly Jan. 6 encounter in a southeast Las Vegas neighborhood.
McGrath said police received a 911 call about a burglary in progress.
Otero’s father called police about 10:30 a.m. to the 6700 block of Francis Celia Avenue, near Duck Creek Trail and Broadbent Boulevard, McGrath said.
The man told a 911 dispatcher that his son was trying to break into his house, where he was not allowed because of a temporary protective order, McGrath said.
Officers responding to the reported burglary spotted Otero on a nearby sidewalk about 12 minutes after his father called 911, McGrath said. But Otero refused to stop, dropping a backpack, and turning toward officer Jason Guerra.
“Stop! Drop the knife, Ricardo,” Guerra shouted repeatedly in the video.
Guerra starts moving backward while continuing to issue commands to Otero to stop moving, but Otero continues to close the gap between the two, McGrath said.
Otero continued to approach Guerra as he was up against a wall near the sidewalk, the footage shows. Guerra had moved back more than 75 feet before he opened fire, McGrath said.
“Otero then charged at Officer Guerra while holding the large knife in his hand. Officer Guerra discharged his duty weapon four times, striking Otero causing him to fall to the ground,” McGrath said.
Guerra’s body-worn camera footage showed the incident unfold up until the point of the shooting.
Watch the video below:
Otero died at the hospital. McGrath said Otero’s father told police that his son had some mental health issues.
Guerra, 40, has been with the department since 2005.
The investigation remains ongoing. McGrath did not say if Guerra was suspended, or if he faces any disciplinary action pending the outcome of the investigation.
