The Nye County Sheriff's Office has released body camera footage that captures the tragic encounter leading up to a deputy's fatal shooting of an armed man in Amargosa Valley last week. On Aug. 6, before 10 a.m., a caller reported a man threatening suicide. Troy Plascencia, 36, was later identified as the individual who was armed with what the caller described as a "sword," as stated in a 911 call shared by Nye County Sheriff Joe McGill.
Bodycam footage obtained by News 3 LV reveals the tense moments Deputy Michael Short encountered Plascencia. Arriving alone at the scene, Short was met by Plascencia exiting his trailer with a machete. Despite repeated instructions for Plascencia to "put it down," and to "stay back," he continued to approach Short. Plascencia then told the deputy, "Man, shoot me" and "You better shoot me," motioning with the machete toward his chest and head.
The situation escalated when Plascencia, ignoring the deputy's commands, walked towards Deputy Short while saying, "chest or the head," as mentioned on 8 News Now report. According to the footage released by the sheriff's office, Short discharged two rounds, striking Plascencia, which resulted in his death. In a post-incident review, it was determined that had Plascencia survived, he would have been charged with resisting a peace officer with a weapon and assault on a protected person with a weapon.
Deputy Short, who has served with the Nye County Sheriff's Office since July 2024, was placed on paid administrative leave pending a review by the district attorney's office, as confirmed by 8 News Now.
