Marc Kahre

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

October 12, 1988

LV Police Officer Slain

Gunman dies at Hospital

A gunman who vowed not to be taken alive shot and killed a police officer Tuesday on a residential street in northeast Las Vegas.

Police said the gunman, Lester James Eierdam, 37, fled the scene after exchanging gunfire with officers and collided with a car at the busy intersection a few blocks away, Eierdam died several hours later at University Medical Center.

Sheriff John Moran said Eierdam shot Marc Kahre, 34, and 11 year veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department, “in cold blood,” Kahre was a motorcycle officer.

The sequence of events leading to the gun battle began at 11:24 a.m. when police received a report of shots fired at 1501 James St., the home of Eierdam’s ex-girlfriend, Stacy Grats, 20. Police said they received a call at 11:35 a.m. that Eierdam was pointing a gun at a citizen at a 7-Eleven store at Nellis and Charleston Boulevards.

Police broadcast a description of Eierdam’s beige 1980 Dodge Diplomat.

At 12:10 p.m. patrolman James Hulsey found the car just a few blocks from the convenience store and began following it. He was joined by Kahre, who was on his motorcycle.

“As they drove through the 4900 block of Chantilly Avenue, the suspect suddenly slammed on his brakes, leaped from the driver’s door of his vehicle, leveled a revolver across the roof of the vehicle and fired at Officer Marc Kahre, striking him and wounding him mortally,” Moran said. “It is believed that officer Kahre managed to get off at least one shot at the suspect.”

According to police, Hulsey fired at Eierdam from inside his patrol car through the windshield, striking him several times in the torso. Eierham managed to get back in his car and flee.

Hulsey stayed with Kahre until paramedics arrived. In his attempt to escape, Eierdam collided with another vehicle in front of a shopping center at Lamb and Charleston boulevards, where he was pulled from the car seriously wounded, police said.

Subsequent investigation determined that Eierdam sustained a gunshot wound to the temple.

…Kahre was pronounced dead as he lay in the middle of Chantilly Avenue between his toppled motorcycle and Hulsey’s patrol car.

Plaque Location & Image

North Wall Column 13 Row B     View The Plaque