A reported carjacking at a Spring Valley apartment complex ended in gunfire last Sunday afternoon, leaving a suspect hospitalized and marking the city's fifth officer-involved shooting of 2025, according to Las Vegas police. The man was taken to a nearby hospital and is facing multiple charges while the department's Force Investigation Team works the case.
How the encounter unfolded
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers were dispatched around 12:26 p.m. to the 5100 block of Indian River Drive for a report of a carjacking in progress at the Bella Vita apartment complex. Officers located a suspect near the entrance, and a physical struggle broke out involving two officers. During that struggle, the department says the man produced what officers believed was a knife, and one officer opened fire. Medical personnel transported the wounded suspect to a nearby hospital.
Officer identified; suspect's status and charges
The officer who fired has been identified as 31-year-old Patrick Natali and has been placed on routine paid administrative leave, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The paper identifies the suspect as 38-year-old Wade Griffith, who was shot once and arrested at the scene. According to court records cited by reporters, he faces multiple charges, including attempted robbery with the use of a deadly weapon.
Vape pen detail emerges in briefing
Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren told reporters that officers later learned the object in the man's hand was actually a vape pen that had been mistaken for a knife. Video shown during the briefing captures someone shouting, "He has a knife!" just seconds before a single gunshot is heard, as per the Review-Journal.
Investigation and next steps
LVMPD says the Force Investigation Team is leading the probe and urged anyone with information to call 702-828-8452 or submit tips to Crime Stoppers, according to the department's statement. The LVMPD release noted that the officer's name would be made public after 48 hours and that the case remains under review.
Local context
Local coverage has pointed out that this is the fifth officer-involved shooting in Metro's jurisdiction so far this year, a streak that has renewed public focus on the department's policies and transparency surrounding use-of-force incidents. Regional outlets and reporters continue to review body-camera footage and court records as the investigation moves forward, as noted by KOLO.
