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UPDATE: LVMPD identifies officer who shot man armed with pellet gun

Posted at 12:10 AM, Oct 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-17 11:49:10-04

UPDATE OCT. 16:  LVMPD has released details and a timeline of the incident involving a police officer who shot a suspect who was threatening police.

Officer Julien Pappas has been identified as the cop that fired the shots striking the man threatening police on the 100 block of Moonlight Drive.

Officer Pappas is 28-years-old and has been employed with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department since November 2014.  

Officer Pappas is assigned to the Community Policing Division, Northeast Area Command. He has been placed on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a review of this incident.

Statement from LVMPD:

On October 11, 2017 at approximately 7:45 p.m., patrol officers were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Moonlight Drive to assist a citizen retrieving property. Responding officers were advised that a domestic disturbance had occurred October 11, 2017 where a male, identified as Vaughn Morrill had committed coercion with force against his girlfriend. Morrill was not present when officers investigated that incident and a report was taken. Information was further provided that Morrill was violent and had made statements that he would “kill a cop if need be." When officers arrived at the residence, they spoke with the Morrill through a Ring doorbell system. Morrill was very confrontational and threatened to kill police. Officers determined that Morrill was not on the premises and remained on scene while the female retrieved her property. At approximately 8:32 p.m., Morrill arrived at the residence in his truck and rammed it into the rear end of an unoccupied marked patrol vehicle. Per a witness, Morrill got out of his car and was holding a handgun. He then proceeded to fired it at the parked patrol car. He then walked over to the other parked marked patrol car and kicked the front door and struck the window with the butt of his handgun. The on scene officers were inside of the residence when this was occurring. As officer Pappas exited the residence through the front door, he was rushed by Morrill who shouted “Die” and was pointing the handgun at him. Officer Pappas fired five rounds at Morrill striking him once. Morrill was rendered immediate aid and transported to the UMC Trauma Center.  As Morrill was being prepared for transport to the hospital, he punched a Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Firefighter in the face because he thought the firefighter was a police officer. This resulted in an additional charge of Battery by Prisoner against Morrill. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Morrill was armed with a Smith and Wesson M&P replica BB gun.  This is the 19th officer involved shooting for 2017. The LVMPD Force Investigation Team is currently investigating the officer’s use of force in this incident. Their findings will be forwarded to the Clark County District Attorney for review. An examination of this incident is being conducted by the LVMPD Critical Incident Review Team. This review will focus on policy, tactics and training as it relates to this use of force. This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with any information is urged to contact the LVMPD Force Investigation Section at 702-828-8452. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 702-385-5555, or on the internet at www.crimestoppersofNV.com.

ORIGINAL STORY: At 7:45 p.m. on October 11, officers were called to a home on the 100 block of Moonlight Drive, near Charleston and Lamb boulevards to help a woman retrieve her property.

The woman told officers that a domestic disturbance had happened the day before and that her boyfriend had threatened violence against police. Officers believed there was probable cause to arrest the male for felony domestic-related charges.

When officers arrived at the residence and confirmed the man was not present at the home, but they did speak with the boyfriend through a Ring doorbell. The boyfriend was very confrontational and threatened violence against police. Officers remained on the scene while the woman retrieved her property.

At 8:30 p.m., the boyfriend arrived in a pickup truck and crashed it into the back of an unoccupied police car. He then went to the front door of the home armed with a handgun. The boyfriend charged the officers shouting and raised his handgun.

One officer fired his handgun several times hitting the suspect. The suspect was given immediate aid and transported to the UMC Trauma Center where he is listed in stable condition.

During the course of the investigation, police determined that the suspect was armed with a pellet gun.