Raul P. Elizondo

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

January 31, 1995

NLV Police Officer Killed

Raul Elizondo is fatally shot after a man seizes the officer’s gun and fires a bullet, piercing his vest.

The North Las Vegas Police Department’s 1994 Officer of the Year was killed at dawn Monday after a man wrestled the officer’s gun away from him, shooting and killing the policeman.

The man, who authorities have not identified, then led other officers responding to the 5:24 a.m. shooting on a brief chase where they exchanged gunfire. Then the man used the officer’s gun to shoot himself fatally in the head.

The bullet that killed Officer Raul Elizondo, 27, tore between the seams of his bulletproof vest, leaving him with a fatal wound on the left side of his torso. Elizondo, who had about 90 minutes left on his shift, was taken to University Medical Center where he died at 6:25 a.m.

…After Elizondo was shot, he was able to radio for emergency assistance. Within seconds, seven officers were on the scene, North Las Vegas Police said. Six of the assisting officers chased the gunman north on Magnet Street, while another officer stayed with Elizondo until an ambulance arrived. The shots exchanged by the officers and the gunman riddled surrounding houses, cars and trucks.

The man fled west on foot to Piper Avenue, where he found himself trapped by a patrol car blocking his path on one side and officers closing in on foot on the other… He came within two or three feet of the car and fired several shots, shattering the front windows on the driver and passenger sides. The assailant then walked about 20 yards away from the car and shot himself once in the head. He died immediately.

Plaque Location & Image

South Wall Column 14 Row B     View The Plaque