Holly MatkinLas Vegas, NV – Police helicopter and bodycam footage captured the moment when a drunken man pointed a gun at officers and hotel patrons on Mother’s Day.
The incident began at approximately 7:18 p.m. on May 10, when Las Vegas Metro Police Department (LVMPD) officers were dispatched to the Siena Suites Hotel on Boulder Highway for a report of an “intoxicated” man who was blaring his music and pointing a gun at people, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
The suspect, later identified as 42-year-old Jody Lucas, was standing outside his room on a third-floor balcony with a gun in his hand when he was spotted by officers in a LVMPD helicopter, LVMPD Assistant Sheriff Christopher Darcy said during a press conference on May 13.
Video footage from the helicopter showed Lucas as he pointed the weapon directly at the officers hovering above him.
“Be advised he has a submachine gun-type weapon…pointed right towards us,” an officer said over the radio.
As LVMPD Sergeant Justin Diebold arrived at the scene, he heard Lucas comment that he was going to get his gun and shoot people, Sheriff Darcy said, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
He was soon joined by Officer Daniel Lapolla and Officer Austin Lea, and they all made their way upstairs to the floor where Lucas’ apartment was located.
Meanwhile, Officer Brendan Hansen positioned himself on the balcony of a nearby building across from Lucas’ location, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
When Lucas emerged from his room, he pointed a gun at people who were in the pool area and began yelling.
The officers immediately opened fire, hitting Lucas multiple times.
The gunman pivoted and pointed his weapon at the officers before he abruptly tossed it to the ground and ran down the stairs.
When he reached the ground level, Lucas was intercepted by Sergeant Stephen Trzpis, who fired three more rounds at him.
Police converged on the drunken suspect and were able to apply two tourniquets before he was rushed to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in critical condition, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Investigators determined that the two weapons Lucas was armed with during the incident were both BB guns, Sheriff Darcy said.
Lucas was booked into the Clark County Detention Center in absentia on charges of child endangerment, resisting a police officer with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon, and four counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a protected person, KSNV reported.
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. Warning – Graphic Content and Obscene Language: