HollyMatkinLas Vegas, NV – The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) has released bodycam footage of an officer-involved shooting that occurred on a busy street near the Stratosphere hotel and casino on Jan. 26 (video below).
Justin Blake, 34, was shot three times after he pulled a replica Beretta BB gun from his waistband, and pointed it at police, LVMPD Assistant Sheriff Tim Kelly said during a Tuesday press conference.
Officers were dispatched to the area at 11:27 p.m., after a caller reported that an intoxicated male was yelling and waving a gun.
“Patrol officers arrived within one minute of the call, and located Blake standing near a restaurant in the area,” Sheriff Kelly said.
The incident unfolded on a heavily populated roadway, and lines of traffic could be seen in the video.
Officers attempted to make contact with Blake, and issued verbal commands for him to stop and get on the ground, but he refused and swiftly walked away.
“He’s got the gun out,” Officer Bryan Davila said in the video.
“Officers continued to issue verbal commands, and told Blake to put his hands up, and to get on the ground,” Sheriff Kelly said. “Blake pulled his weapon out of his waistband, then put the firearm back into his waistband, and ran into traffic and onto the median.”
A brief foot pursuit ensued across the lanes of traffic.
“Blake then pulled the firearm out of his waistband, turned, and pointed it at officers,” Sheriff Kelly explained. “Officer Davila fired four rounds, striking Blake three times. Blake fell to the ground in the traffic lane, and dropped his firearm.”
Blake continued to resist arrest while on the ground, and became combative with police as they took him into custody, Sheriff Kelly said.
He continued to fight officers as they placed a tourniquet on his leg to stop his blood loss, and was ultimately transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds to the arm, foot, and leg.
The sheriff said Blake’s toxicology reports have not come back yet.
During the investigation, police learned that Blake was in possession of a .177 caliber Beretta replica BB gun, with no BBs.
Sheriff Kelly showed an image of Blake’s weapon alongside a photo of a Beretta 92FS during the press conference.
“As you can see, they’re very similar,” he said.
Blake was charged with two counts of resisting arrest with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a protected person, and one count of carrying a concealed weapon.
He refused to speak with investigators.
According to Sheriff Kelly, Blake has had numerous run-ins with police in the past.
His criminal history includes coercion with force, burglary, battery/domestic violence, malicious destruction of property, obstructing, battery/domestic violence with deadly weapon, and traffic offenses.
Officer Davila, 33, has been with the department for approximately one year, and was assigned to the tourist safety division at downtown area command, Sheriff Kelly said.
The LVMPD Force Investigation Team was continuing to investigate the incident, and their finding will be forwarded to the Clark County District Attorney for review, the LVMPD said in a press release.
Watch Officer Davila’s bodycam footage of the shooting below. WARNING – Graphic content: