In the pre-dawn hours of January 30, 1995, a male North Las Vegas police officer, 27-year-old Raul Paul Elizondo, was nearing the end of his shift. He responded to a call about a suspicious and erratically behaving man walking into traffic near Magnet Street and Evans Avenue. A confrontation and struggle ensued between Officer Elizondo and the unidentified man.
During the altercation, the suspect managed to gain control of Officer Elizondo's service weapon.
He then fatally shot the officer. The bullet struck Elizondo in the side, penetrating a gap between the panels of his protective vest. Despite his grave injury, Elizondo was able to radio for assistance.
Responding officers engaged in a brief gunfight with the suspect, who had fled a short distance. After exchanging shots with the police, the man who had shot Officer Elizondo used the officer's own handgun to take his own life. Officer Elizondo was transported to University Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. The suspect's identity was not publicly released. As the sole suspect in Officer Elizondo's death also died at the scene, no arrests were made in connection with the incident.
