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WEST WENDOVER, Nev., Dec. 8, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A man was shot and killed by police in West Wendover, Nev., after a brief pursuit Saturday afternoon.
According to a statement by West Wendover Police Lt. Don Lininge, officers attempted to stop a reckless driver who was in a pickup truck on Wendover Boulevard — just south of Interstate 80 and near the Utah-Nevada border — at about 12:42 p.m.
The driver refused to stop and the pursuit ended in a minor crash at a Chevron station at 820 Wendover Blvd., where he exited his vehicle and was confronted by at least two West Wendover police officers.
A video shot by a bystander and posted on social media shows the man being ordered to surrender while he backs away from officers.
Seconds later at least five gun shots rang out and a man off-camera can be heard saying, “He’s dying. He’s already died.”
Witnesses say the suspect was holding a knife to his own throat while defying police commands to get on the ground.
Officers tried to revive the suspect, but were unsuccessful.
His identity has yet to be released.
Both West Wendover police officers have been placed on administrative leave.
The Elko County Sheriff’s Office is now investigating the incident in keeping with officer-involved shooting protocol.
Mayor Daniel Corona issued a statement on Twitter later Saturday, in which he expressed his confidence that the officers acted “in a manner that is consistent with training under these circumstances.” His complete statement is shown below.
Hello my name is Scott i saw the shooting i follow the cops up the street and watch them shoot him i fill out a wittness form told them it was wrong what they did to this man left them my number i have not heard back from them it was not right what happen if the family wants to call i would love to tell them what happen thanks