On the evening of March 18, 1979, a promising young life was tragically cut short in Las Vegas, Nevada. James Walter Harbin, a 22-year-old White / Caucasian male, had recently embarked on a career in law enforcement, joining the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department as a Correctional Officer on February 7, 1979. With only six and a half weeks of service under his belt, he was just beginning his journey to serve and protect the community.
On that fateful Sunday evening, Harbin, in
uniform and on his way to work at the Clark County Jail, made a stop at a Circle K convenience store located at 3500 E. Charleston Blvd. Unbeknownst to him, an armed robbery was in progress inside. As he entered, the store clerk attempted to warn him of the dangerous situation. However, the gunman, seeing Harbin's uniform which closely resembled that of a police officer, mistook him for law enforcement. Before Harbin could fully comprehend the situation, the assailant fired a small automatic pistol at close range.
The shots were fatal. Though paramedics arrived at the scene to render aid, Harbin succumbed to his injuries in the ambulance on the way to Sunrise Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 10 p.m. He had reportedly stopped at the store simply to buy a pack of Life Savers. The incident set off a manhunt for the person responsible for the senseless killing of the young officer.
The investigation quickly led police to a trailer at the Pecos Park Coach Club. There, they surrounded the residence where the suspect, identified as Phillip Tomanchero, had barricaded himself. After a standoff that lasted for several hours, negotiators were able to persuade Tomanchero to surrender. He was taken into custody without any further shots being fired, bringing a tense conclusion to the search for the man who had ended the life of Officer James Walter Harbin II.
