The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released body camera footage that shows a fatal standoff between an officer and a couple embroiled in a violent confrontation this past weekend.
At around 5:34 p.m., the LVMPD received a call about a man choking a woman outside of the Rhino Mart gas station convenience store located at 780 Pyle Ave. in the Silverado Ranch section of the city. When 11-year-veteran officer David Nesheiwat, 33, arrived at the scene, he found 41-year-old Phillip Pitts constraining his wife as she screamed and cried for help.
When it became apparent to the officer that Pitts was armed and holding the gun in his possession to his wife's stomach, Nesheiwat immediately drew his gun and began to order Pitts to release the woman. In a moment of questionable judgment, he also commanded the victim to force herself away.
Soon after realizing that Pitts had no intention of setting the woman free, Nesheiwat let off two shots that sent him to the ground. Nesheiwat would then follow up with two additional shots seeing Pitts still had his firearm aimed at the distressed victim.
Unfortunately, one of the bullets directed at Pitts penetrated his arm and hit the woman in the stomach. She was transported to University Medical Center where she'd undergo a successful surgery to remove the hot lead. Pitts was pronounced dead at the scene.
