Last Sunday, a reported carjacking incident in Las Vegas escalated into an officer-involved shooting, marking the fifth occurrence of its kind for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) this year. The confrontation took place at an apartment complex located in the 5100 block of Indian River Drive. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Wade David Griffith, allegedly brandished a knife in his attempt to commandeer a car before being confronted by police, according to details provided by LVMPD and reported by 8 News Now.
Having received the report, officers arrived at the scene around midday and found Griffith, who did not comply with verbal commands to surrender. Investigating a report of an attempted armed carjacking, the officers found themselves in a physical struggle with the suspect. During the altercation, Griffith pulled out what was believed to be a knife, which resulted in one officer firing his weapon and wounding Griffith, as per Hoodline's coverage of the incident.
The officer who discharged his firearm was later identified as 31-year-old Patrick Natali, a member of the LVMPD since 2022, currently serving in the Community Safety Division in the Spring Valley Area Command. Following the event, he was placed on routine paid administrative leave pending a review, LVMPD Capt. Ryan Wiggins said in a statement obtained by 8 News Now.
Griffith, transported to a local hospital, remains in critical condition, facing several charges. The charges include two counts each of robbery with the use of a deadly weapon, battery with the use of a deadly weapon against an officer, and resisting a public officer with the use of a deadly weapon. Griffith, struggling against a tumultuous legal history, has two open disorderly conduct cases with court appearances looming in the coming weeks, one of them as soon as December 4.
The Las Vegas police are continuing their investigation and have appealed to the public for additional information. They urge witnesses or anyone with relevant knowledge to contact their Force Investigation Team or share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers, as the search for further details to shed light on the altercation's prior circumstances is essential to the inquiry, LVMPD encourages in a statement echoed by Hoodline.
