LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Las Vegas police identified the woman who is in critical condition after being shot by two officers last week near the Galleria at Sunset Mall in Henderson.
During a news briefing Monday morning, Assistant Sheriff James Seebock with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said 31-year-old Lorraine Alvarado, who remains hospitalized for the March 1 shooting, was armed with a 9 mm handgun and pointed it toward officers but never fired it.
“We were dealing with a person who has been arrested for four violent felony crimes in the past, who was most recently — in February of this year — for theft, received a plea deal and was subsequently released,” Seebock said.
Alvarado also has prior convictions including a burglary in 2018, robbery with a deadly weapon in 2016, robbery in 2011, and conspiracy to commit robbery in 2011, according to Seebock.
Police released video from several body-worn cameras that showed the police chase of the stolen Mercedes that ended in a crash and an armed Alvarado attempting to run away.
An officer can be heard yelling “drop it, drop it, drop it, drop the gun,” but Alvarado ignores the commands as she turns toward the officers, identified as Justin Garcia, 26, and Jacob Barr, 29. Both officers fired their weapons. In all, there were 16 shots fired by the officers.
Seebock said the incident started when Metro received a report of a robbery at a business involving three female suspects; one of the suspects was armed. The three fled in a stolen black Mercedes Benz.
Officers located the car near Sahara Avenue and Paradise Road and attempted to stop it but a police chase began and traveled along U.S. 95 toward Henderson where an officer deployed a tire deflation device at U.S. 95 and Russell Road. Seebock said the stolen car went over the device and traveled along Sunset Road where it crashed into another vehicle at Stephanie Street.
“Alvarado who was a passenger in the car and got out of the car, and ran northbound on Stephanie while holding a handgun,” Seebock said.
Alvarado was struck by police gunfire and transported to Sunrise Hospital where she remains in critical condition, Seebock said.
Alvarado, who was booked in absentia, is facing charges of robbery with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery with a deadly weapon, grand larceny of a vehicle, owing or possessing a gun by a prohibited person, assault with a deadly weapon on a protected person (2 counts), and resisting a public officer with a firearm (2 counts).
The other two women in the vehicle were arrested and face charges.
Both officers have been placed on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a review of the incident.
