LVMPD Officer Fires 15 Rounds at Armed Suspect Near Las Vegas Strip

Suspect Mitchell Nettles, armed with what turned out to be a replica BB gun, was struck by gunfire and booked into the Clark County Detention Center.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officer Alex Pena fired 15 rounds at 43-year-old Mitchell Nettles near Harmon Avenue and Arville Street just before 3:30 a.m. Saturday after Nettles pointed what appeared to be a firearm at the officer during a foot pursuit. The incident, which unfolded near the Las Vegas Strip, marks the fifth officer-involved shooting for LVMPD so far this year. Nettles was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries before being booked into the Clark County Detention Center.

How the Confrontation Began

Officer Alex Pena, 26, was on proactive patrol and armed with a 9mm handgun when he observed Mitchell Nettles leaving a wash area near Harmon Avenue and Arville Street wearing a black tactical vest. Pena saw Nettles walk near a hotel and casino property across the street and considered him suspicious, activating his police lights to stop him for trespassing.

Nettles immediately became confrontational with Pena and refused to identify himself. Pena attempted to place Nettles in handcuffs, but Nettles was uncooperative and began to flee, prompting Pena to give chase on foot.

Officer Opens Fire During Foot Pursuit

During the foot pursuit, Pena observed Nettles reach toward the back of his waistband, pull out a firearm, and point it at the officer. Pena then discharged six rounds toward Nettles. The pursuit continued, and Pena saw Nettles reach back into his waist area and his tactical vest, causing the officer to fire several more rounds.

Nettles was struck by gunfire but continued to flee. Additional officers arrived and issued commands for Nettles to stop, which he refused. As Nettles moved toward a nearby casino property, one of the responding officers deployed a low-lethal shotgun, firing four rounds and striking Nettles at least one time. Nettles removed his tactical vest before being taken into custody.

Firearm Revealed to Be a Replica BB Gun

Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren confirmed that the firearm Nettles appeared to be carrying was later revealed to be a replica BB gun. At the time of the shooting, however, Officer Pena and responding officers had no way to distinguish it from a real weapon.

Koren addressed the split-second nature of the decision officers faced. "These investigations take a long time," Koren said. "There is fairly established case law where we can question different things, but officers at the scene have split seconds to make a decision, and very limited information to protect themselves and protect the community."

Suspect's Condition, Charges, and Court Date

Nettles was transported to a hospital and treated for injuries deemed non-life-threatening. He was subsequently booked into the Clark County Detention Center. According to court records, Nettles faces charges including assault on a protected person, resisting a public officer with a gun, carrying a concealed weapon, and trespassing. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 13.

No officers or other citizens were reported injured during the incident. Koren noted that only officers who use deadly force will be publicly identified in connection with the shooting.

Officer Background and Administrative Status

Officer Pena has been with the department since 2024 and is assigned to the Tourist Safety Division in the Spring Valley Area Command. Following the shooting, Pena was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings.

The incident represents the fifth LVMPD officer-involved shooting of the year. At the same point last year, there had been two police shootings, according to department figures provided by Koren.

What we know

• The shooting occurred just before 3:30 a.m. Saturday near Harmon Avenue and Arville Street.
• Officer Alex Pena, 26, fired a total of 15 rounds at suspect Mitchell Nettles, 43, during the incident.
• Pena initially fired six rounds after Nettles pointed what appeared to be a firearm at him, then fired additional rounds as the pursuit continued.
• The firearm Nettles appeared to be carrying was later confirmed by Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren to be a replica BB gun.
• A second officer deployed a low-lethal shotgun, firing four rounds and striking Nettles at least once.
• Nettles was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and booked into the Clark County Detention Center.
• Nettles faces charges of assault on a protected person, resisting a public officer with a gun, carrying a concealed weapon, and trespassing.
• A preliminary hearing for Nettles is scheduled for May 13.

Why it matters

The shooting is the fifth officer-involved shooting recorded by LVMPD in 2026, more than double the two that had occurred at the same point last year. The incident took place in the early morning hours near the Las Vegas Strip, a heavily trafficked tourist corridor, and involved a suspect heading toward a casino property before being taken into custody. The revelation that the weapon Nettles carried was a replica BB gun rather than a real firearm adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing administrative investigation into Officer Pena's use of force.

What’s next

Mitchell Nettles is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 13 on charges including assault on a protected person, resisting a public officer with a gun, carrying a concealed weapon, and trespassing. Officer Alex Pena remains on paid administrative leave while LVMPD conducts its investigation into the shooting, a process Koren described as one that takes a long time.

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