By: Stephen Jackson
A five hour domestic dispute – turned stand off, ended with police killing a man. It ended in Henderson but it started in northwest Las Vegas.
Police say the 46-year-old man fired shots at his stepdaughter around midnight. He then drove away from the house.
Police spotted his car near the Spaghetti Bowl heading south on U.S. 95. Officers chased him and during the pursuit, they say he shot at them.
The man got off the freeway and was stopped in the middle of the intersection of Marks and Sunset.
For five hours he got in and out of his vehicle with a gun – telling officers he wanted them to shoot him. Metro’s SWAT Team tried to negotiate with the man and take him into custody.
At about 5:00 a.m., police say he pointed the gun at an officer. They fired one shot, killing him. Metro says police had no other option.
“Police nationally are not very successful once an individual becomes bent on being killed by the police – determined to be killed by police,” said Metro Deputy Chief Ted Moody.
Why list people killed by police?
Police do not believe drugs or alcohol were involved. The suspect was retired military.
The officer, 35-year-old Peter Montesanti, will be on routine administrative leave while police investigate the incident. He is an 11 year veteran of Metro and assigned to the SWAT detail.
The person shot by police has been identified as 45-year-old Brian Ramirez. He lived in Las Vegas.
The way I look at it. Brian Ramirez was shot and killed with one bullet. Why couldnt the cops just wound him. The man needed help, not dead.
Comment by Diana — January 20, 2008 @ 4:07 pm
Brian was a great guy. This was just a bad day as I am concerned. I dont blame the cops for doing what they were trained to do, but if they knew him personally I think it would have happened diferently. If the situation could have just gone a little diferently. I know Brian would do it over again differently.
Comment by Darren — January 23, 2008 @ 7:55 am
The police don’t have much choice when someone is holding a gun and threatening to shoot civilians or police. Suggesting that he should have been wounded or that they should have waited longer than 5 hours doesn’t make sense. First, you can’t wound someone and guarantee that a bullet fired from his gun acidentally or purposfully won’t kill someone, perhaps a child in a nearby house. Second, how long do you wait? The police must act within a reasonable timeframe or they may make mistakes.
It is very sad, but don’t blame the police. They were there to protect the innocent from a man threatening to use a gun. There is no perfect solution.
Comment by Robert — January 25, 2008 @ 2:37 pm
He never shot at his daughter!
why don’t you print that!
why is it you never go to the depositions to find out what really happened. You print what you first hear, but nothing after that?
Comment by Dennis Garcia — April 16, 2008 @ 3:07 pm