Police fire on inebriated, suicidal man in northwest valley

A Metro Police officer opened fire on a man said to be suicidal and under the influence of alcohol who they say pointed a gun at them Tuesday afternoon in a northwest valley neighborhood.

The man was rushed to University Medical Center where he remained in serious, but stable condition Tuesday evening, Metro Capt. Christopher Little said. It wasn’t immediately clear if the man was hit by police gunfire or if the single wound was self-inflicted.

A concerned family member summoned officers about 2 p.m. to a house in the 3300 block of Lingo Street, near Cheyenne Avenue and Fort Apache Road, Metro Capt. Christopher Little said.

Arriving officers encountered family members of the man standing outside, Little said. At some point during the call, the man exited the house and when an officer tried talking to him, the suspect pulled out a gun from a bathrobe he was wearing.

An officer shot multiple rounds when the man disobeyed verbal commands to drop his weapon, prompting the suspect to retreat back into the house, Little said.

The next time police encountered the man, he was inside the house, lying on the floor with a gun next to him, Little said.

This was the third shooting of the year involving Metro, the second nonfatal.

The involved officer was placed on paid administrative leave per Metro policy. An expanded briefing is expected within 72 hours.

Further details were not immediately available.