LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Officers launched new video footage Monday of a lethal rampage by a person who killed his mom, stole a police car after which carjacked a number of drivers at gunpoint, killing one.
The discharge was a part of a police fatality fact-finding overview for the Dec. 27, 2023, dying of Justin Davidson, 36. That day, Davidson, of Henderson, was firing a gun close to his household dwelling at Placid Avenue and Maulding Avenue in southeast Las Vegas. The pictures woke up Davidson’s dad and mom, who police stated believed he was firing within the desert wash behind the house.
Photograph of Justin Davidson offered by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division
His dad and mom drove to the wash and obtained out of their car earlier than Davidson started firing at them, killing his mom, Liza Leveille-Davidson, 58, of Las Vegas. Davidson’s father ran to the car whereas Davidson continued firing at him.
As officers arrived on the scene, Davidson began firing on the officers. The officers took cowl behind their autos as Davidson continued firing no less than two dozen pictures at them. Police stated Davidson then approached a locked Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division cruiser, shot out the window, obtained inside, and took off.
Man who killed mom, driver throughout Las Vegas carjacking rampage was ordered to forfeit weapons
Surveillance footage from a fuel station close to Durango Drive and Heat Springs Highway confirmed Davidson then pulled up behind a blue Ford Raptor seconds after a person obtained out of the automotive to pump fuel. Davidson then held the person and three different occupants of the car at gunpoint. He grabbed the person by the collar and yelled “Get out of the car.” Davidson then drove off, hitting a pole and a trash can.
Officers then positioned Davidson at a fuel station close to Blue Diamond Highway and Durango Drive the place he dedicated one other carjacking of a crimson SUV.
An officer noticed the carjacking in progress and fired at Davidson. Investigators believed that a number of of these pictures struck Davidson, as they discovered blood within the SUV when police recovered it.
Video footage confirmed officers yelling at Davidson to get out of the automotive. Davidson as soon as once more fled, heading north on Durango Drive earlier than he made a U-turn beside a white van pushed by Gerardo Lopez-Martinez, 39, of Las Vegas, who was making an attempt to drag over close to the intersection at Mistral Avenue. Physique digicam footage then captured Davidson exiting the crimson SUV and heading to the passenger facet of a white van – with a rifle in hand.
A number of officers have been heard yelling, “He’s got a rifle. He’s got a rifle,” and then another officer yelled, “He shot him. Driver down. He killed the driver.”
Jerry Lopez (proper) featured together with his household of seven youngsters and spouse two weeks earlier than Christmas 2023. (Photograph courtesy, Karen Lopez)
Davidson fired a shot into the driving force’s facet window of the van, placing Lopez-Martinez. Davidson ran to the passenger’s facet, shot on the door, and entered the van. Extra gunfire erupted and officers fired pictures on the van as Davidson drove off as soon as once more. Davidson’s carjacked car broke down at Durango Drive and Agate Avenue, the place it got here to a rolling cease. Officers famous there was no movement within the van. Officers positioned Davison lifeless within the car, affected by a number of gunshot wounds, police stated.
Man who killed mom, bystander throughout Las Vegas carjacking rampage might have ready for battle with police
Two Metro cops and three state troopers shot at Davidson 63 instances, police stated.
The weapons Davidson used throughout the rampage have been a Sig Sauer AR 308 rifle that had been stolen in Could from a Las Vegas gun present and an AK-47-style rifle with the serial quantity destroyed, in keeping with police.
The Clark County District Lawyer’s workplace made the preliminary dedication that no prison prosecution of the officers concerned within the dying of Davidson is acceptable.
Police searched the desert wash close to Davidson’s dwelling and located loaded ammo magazines of assorted calibers. Investigators additionally discovered a pocket book that contained writing that included a diagram of a possible ambush, indicating that Davidson had been getting ready for a confrontation with officers.
As well as, police discovered digital gadgets, path cameras, bulletproof vests, tactical helmets, firearms, and parts that police believed may very well be used to create firearm suppressors at Davidson’s dwelling in Las Vegas. At his Henderson dwelling, regulation enforcement discovered extra notebooks and electronics. Investigators famous that additionally they discovered army manuals and paperwork detailing police response to mass-casualty occasions.
Davidson’s prison historical past
Davidson had an in depth prison historical past relationship again to 2009 together with his most up-to-date arrest in November 2023 on a DUI warrant from March. Davidson did have quite a few earlier arrests on drug and weapon expenses, police stated.
Man who killed mom, driver throughout Las Vegas carjacking rampage was arrested after crash with fentanyl in system
In March 2023, Davidson was arrested for driving with a deadly quantity of fentanyl in his system. Police stated Davidson advised the trooper he was not underneath the affect, however took “a root that helps you think better,” paperwork stated. The trooper suspected Davidson was impaired after a subject sobriety take a look at.
Las Vegas police arrested man weeks earlier than he killed mom, driver in carjacking rampage
The trooper arrested Davidson and introduced him to a hospital for a blood take a look at. The take a look at got here again optimistic for fentanyl, hydrocodone, methadone and THC, troopers stated. Police issued a warrant for Davidson’s arrest in August on a DUI cost, information stated. He was
In 2012, a federal grand jury charged Davidson for distributing oxycodone and for being a felon in possession of a firearm, information stated. Davidson’s drug conviction prevented him from possessing a gun, prosecutors stated on the time. A federal choose sentenced Davidson to 57 months in jail, information stated. Davidson was then incarcerated at a California facility.
