LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officer shot a suspect during a struggle at an apartment complex Sunday after the officer believed the man was trying to stab him, police said Tuesday.
Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren said Officer Patrick Natali, 31, fired one round at Wade Griffith, 38, during the altercation at the entrance of an apartment complex in the 5100 block of Indian River Drive on Nov. 23.
Griffith was transported to a hospital where he remains in stable condition. He faces charges including two counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, two counts of battery on a protected person with a deadly weapon and two counts of resisting arrest with a deadly weapon.
The incident began just before 12:30 p.m. when police received a 911 call about an attempted robbery and carjacking at the apartment complex, Koren said.
Griffith approached a victim driving within the complex and said he was going to take the vehicle, according to police. Griffith removed a large knife from his backpack, and the victim drove away, but not before Griffith struck the vehicle with the knife.
Griffith then approached another group working to repair a vehicle in the parking area and demanded they give him a vehicle. When they refused, he entered one of the vehicles and attempted to rummage through items. One victim pulled him out of the vehicle, and Griffith retrieved a large knife from his backpack.
The first arriving officer observed Griffith emerging from between two buildings and issued verbal commands, which Griffith ignored. The officer attempted to take Griffith into custody, and a physical altercation ensued during which Griffith punched the officer in the face.
Officer Natali then arrived, drew his taser and began giving verbal commands. Natali and his partner attempted to physically engage Griffith. During the struggle, Natali’s partner yelled that Griffith had a knife.
“Griffith then makes a swiping motion with his arm towards Officer Natali, holding some object,” Koren said. “Believing Griffith was attempting to stab him, Officer Natali drew his firearm and fired one round, striking Griffith.”
After being shot, Griffith walked a short distance and surrendered. Officers immediately began providing aid and requested medical attention.
Police determined Griffith was holding a vape pen with a closed fist during the struggle, which investigators believe was the object he was using when swiping toward the officer.
After obtaining a search warrant for Griffith’s backpack, police recovered a large knife secured in a sheath and a second empty sheath for another large knife. Police are still searching for the second knife.
Natali, who has been with LVMPD since 2022, is assigned to the Spring Valley Area Command. This marks the fifth officer-involved shooting for LVMPD this year and the second non-fatal incident. At the same time in 2024, the department had 13 officer-involved shootings, eight fatal and five non-fatal.
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