User:Joelthe1stboy

Introduction
On July 27, 2021 a 60-year-old Hawaiian man,(hereinafter “Decedent”) struck Nevada State Police Trooper Micah May while fleeing from readily identifiable law enforcement officers in a stolen vehicle on Interstate 15 in Nevada in Las Vegas near the Spring Mountain Road exit which is off the Sahara Avenue exit that is near to Palace Station. The collision caused Trooper May to be fatally injured, incapacitated, and trapped inside the stolen vehicle with Decedent, who continued to flee. Upon troopers forcing Decedent to stop the vehicle, Decedent was shot and killed by NHP Trooper Joseph DellaBella and Nevada Parole and Probation (P&P) Officers Garrett Dix, Derek Simmons and Luis Villanueva. The officer-involved shooting incident took place at approximately 12:22 p.m.

Synopsis
On July 27, 2021, at approximately 11:05 a.m., J.K. contacted Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department dispatch reporting a white male adult with a large knife in one hand and a stick in the other as he wandered through the intersection located at Nevada State Route 562 and Windy Road. J.K. described the male as approximately 50 to 60 years old, with a thin build and long hair, and possibly on drugs. Following this investigation, the male was determined to match the description of Decedent, who stood 6’0”, weighed 150 pounds, and had long hair. At 11:19 a.m., T.O., contacted LVMPD dispatch reporting that he was the victim of robbery with a deadly weapon, battery with a deadly weapon and grand larceny auto just north of the intersection of Sunset Road and Windy Road. T.O. stated the incident started when a co-worker notified him that a person was inside his vehicle, a black 2020 Hyundai Elantra bearing Nevada license plate PHJ0827. T.O. stated he went to the front passenger side of the Elantra and found a white male adult (later identified as Decedent) in the rear passenger seat. When T.O. told Decedent to get out of the vehicle, Decedent pulled out a large-bladed knife and lunged at T.O. from the backseat. T.O. stated he then circled around to the driver’s side and realized he left the keys to the vehicle in the center console. Decedent then crawled between the two front seats and got in the driver's seat with T.O.’s keys in his hand and started the vehicle. Decedent then placed the Elantra into reverse, struck the front bumper of a vehicle parked to the rear of the Elantra, then placed the Elantra into drive and fled at a high rate of speed. In the process of fleeing, Decedent struck T.O. with the vehicle on the lower left leg and ran over T.O.’s left foot. Decedent swerved the Elantra from right to left and appeared to be attempting to shake Trooper May from the vehicle. Trooper May’s upper body remained stuck in the front windshield of the Elantra with his legs and feet across the hood of the vehicle. Troopers closed the distance that had been given to Decedent during the pursuit. A NHP vehicle moved up along the passenger side of the Elantra and swerved left, hitting the Elantra. The collision caused both vehicles to swerve, and the motion appeared to cause Trooper May to slide further into the Elantra. The NHP vehicle again pulled alongside the passenger side of the Elantra and turned into it, hitting it. Decedent was able to maintain control of the Elantra and continue southbound. During that time, Trooper May’s body slid completely inside the Elantra. Another marked NHP vehicle on the far-right side of the highway sped past other vehicles. Decedent quickly moved the Elantra to the left across the travel lanes. The NHP vehicle moved left across the travel lanes and used its driver side quarter panel to contact the passenger-side rear quarter panel of the Elantra. Decedent maintained control of the vehicle and continued southbound. The NHP vehicle sped up and again conducted the same maneuver, using the front driver-side quarter panel to hit the rear passenger quarter panel of the Elantra. The maneuver caused Decedent to swerve the Elantra into the number two travel lane. The NHP vehicle ended up just behind Decedent on the driver side of the Elantra. The NHP vehicle sped up and conducted the same maneuver, however, this time on Decedent’s driver side. As the front passenger-side quarter panel of the NHP vehicle contacted the rear driver-side quarter panel of the Elantra, it caused the Elantra to spin counterclockwise. The Elantra stopped facing north in the number two travel lane of southbound I-15, south of Sahara Avenue. The NHP vehicle that caused the Elantra to spin stopped with its front driver-side quarter panel at the front driver-side quarter panel of the Elantra. A second marked NHP vehicle stopped just in front of and on the passenger side of the Elantra. An unmarked P&P vehicle stopped directly in front of the Elantra, between the two marked NHP vehicles. The LVMPD Air Unit broadcast a request for medical response over the radio. Above: Screenshot from LVMPD Air Unit camera, as Decedent’s vehicle came to a stop. 7 Trooper DellaBella was in the passenger seat of the patrol vehicle which was stopped at the front passenger-side quarter panel of the Elantra. He exited his vehicle and immediately positioned himself at the edge of the front passenger quarter panel and passenger door of the Elantra. Officers Simmons and Dix were in the unmarked P&P vehicle which was stopped directly in front of the Elantra. They exited their vehicle and positioned themselves directly in front of the Elantra. Officer Dix stood in front of the driver side of the Elantra, and Officer Simmons stood in front of the passenger side. Officer Villanueva parked his unmarked P&P vehicle to the far west side of the I-15. He exited and moved toward Decedent in the Elantra. Officer Villanueva positioned himself at the passenger side of the NHP vehicle that spun the Elantra, which was positioned at the front driver-side quarter panel of the Elantra. The troopers and officers yelled for Decedent to exit from the Elantra. Officer Simmons had clear view into the vehicle through the broken front windshield. Officer Simmons believed Decedent was a female and observed Decedent seated in the driver seat. Trooper May’s legs were draped across Decedent’s lap and his upper body appeared to be on the passenger side floorboard. Officer Simmons stated in an interview “I could see that, uh, the suspect had both of their hands on the, uh, trooper’s gun, which is still in the holster, and they’re using their whole body to like violently trying to - what appeared to me, they were violently trying to jerk the gun and get the gun out of the holster. Um, during this time, I - I verbally announced that - I said, “She’s reaching! She’s reaching!” Trooper DellaBella also observed what Officer Simmons observed and, in an interview, he stated, “I could see the driver jumping around inside the car, trying to get Micah’s weapon from his duty belt and I told him, ‘Do not move. Let me see your hands,’ and ‘Don’t do it,’ and he ignored all my commands. And at that moment, I knew that we were in imminent danger, myself, Micah and everyone around us”. Trooper DellaBella, Officer Dix, Officer Simmons and Officer Villanueva fired their weapons at Decedent. They fired a total of 26 rounds. The three P&P officers maintained their positions after shots were fired. Trooper DellaBella moved back behind a patrol vehicle as he fired. Troopers broadcast over their radio that shots had been fired and requested medical response. As the troopers and officers maintained their positions, LVMPD K9 Officer J.C. moved up to the group and asked where Trooper May was. Officer J.C. was told that Trooper May was still inside the vehicle with Decedent. Officer J.C. assisted the group as they moved up to the vehicle to rescue Trooper May. The passenger door of the Elantra was locked. Officer J.C. used his expandable straight baton to break and remove the window. Officers and troopers found Trooper May inside, unresponsive with his head and lower body toward the floorboard of the passenger side and his legs and feet across the Decedent’s body, which was still seated on the driver seat. As they attempted to pull Trooper May from the vehicle, Trooper May’s body appeared stuck. Officer Dix climbed onto the hood 8 of the Elantra, reached in through the broken windshield, and dislodged Trooper May’s duty belt from the center console. The group pulled Trooper May from the vehicle and carried him to the far-left side (east side) of the I-15. They placed Trooper May on the ground in between the shoulder of the road and the HOV lane. The troopers and officers immediately began to remove Trooper May’s clothing, check his injuries and provide him emergency medical treatment. At the same time, other troopers were at the driver side of the Elantra. Decedent was seated in the driver’s seat unresponsive, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Trooper M.W. removed a set of handcuffs from his belt and handed them to Trooper N.L. at the driver-side door. Trooper N.L. placed Decedent in handcuffs as they waited for medical to arrive. Pictured Above: Screenshot taken from Trooper N.L.’s BWC when the driver’s door to Decedent’s vehicle was initially opened. Trooper May was positioned with his legs across the lap of Decedent and upper body/head toward the passenger floorboard. Decedent was seated in the driver’s seat, with his left hand extended across his body toward Trooper May’s waist, duty belt, and gun. The troopers who were providing aid to Trooper May requested the LVMPD Air Unit land and transport Trooper May due to his critical condition. Though the LVMPD Air Unit’s helicopter is designed for patrol functions, not person rescues, the pilot and TFO chose to land and assist. Officers and troopers carried Trooper May to the helicopter and loaded him in the back with the TFO. The LVMPD Air Unit then flew to UMC where they landed on the hospital’s helipad and took Trooper May to medical staff. Las Vegas Fire and Rescue (LVFR) emergency medical personnel responded to the officer-involved shooting (OIS) scene. LVFR personnel removed Decedent from the 9 vehicle and had a law enforcement officer remove the handcuffs from Decedent. Those involved were identified as:


 * NHP Trooper Joseph DellaBella, 51
 * Parole and Probation Officer Derek Simmons, 30
 * Parole and Probation Officer Garrett Dix, 28
 * ]Parole and Probation Officer Luis Villanueva, 28

Claiborne was struck several times and died on scene. The Clark County Coroner reported he was shot in the head and torso.

Troopers got May out of the car and began life-saving measures before a Metro helicopter landed on I-15. That unit transported the fallen trooper to UMC.

Darcy says they believe this is the first time the department’s air unit has been used to land on the freeway and transport a downed officer to the hospital.

May passed away on July 29, leaving behind his wife and two children.

George Togliatti, director of the Nevada Department of Safety, shared a message on behalf of his department and May’s family:"We would like to thank the kind people of our Las Vegas community, our University Medical Center (UMC), so many local businesses and organizations, our law enforcement partners, who have been terrific, our firefighters, first responders, our tow truck drivers and many more wonderful people for their overwhelming support and amount of caring that they have displayed to our department, but more importantly, to the May family. Thank you very much.”"

SCENE WHERE DECEDENT STRUCK TROOPER MAY
LVMPD crime scene analysts responded to I-15 southbound, south of Nevada State Route 159 which is the Charleston Boulevard above West Oakey Boulevard to photograph and document the scene where Decedent struck Trooper May, and photograph and collect evidence from that scene. The following are photographs taken of the overall scene and items impounded as evidence.

Autopsy
On August 1, 2021, an autopsy was performed on the body of Trooper Micah May by Doctor Ben Murie of the Clark County Office of the Coroner and Medical Examiner (CCOCME). Doctor Murie found that Trooper May suffered the following injuries: Blunt trauma of head, torso and extremities. Radiography evidence of injury showed that Trooper May suffered skull fractures, a right femoral fracture, multiple rib fractures, a left tibial/fibular fracture, right tibial/fibular fracture, and a left radial fracture. After a thorough review of facts and circumstances and a complete autopsy, Doctor Murie opined Micah May died as a result of blunt trauma. Doctor Murie determined Trooper May’s manner of death was homicide. Decedent On July 28, 2021, an autopsy was performed on the body of Decedent by Doctor Timothy Dutra of the CCOCME. The following items of evidence were impounded: 1) One gray tank top 2) One pair of blue shorts 3) One pair of “Adidas” shoes 4) One blue and brown fabric fanny pack 5) $304.25 in US Currency from right pocket 6) $0.01 in US Currency from fanny pack 7) One bullet – upper lumbar back 8) One bullet – right posterior shoulder 9) One bullet – Ilium 10) One bullet – Foramen Magnum 11) One bullet – Right Occipital 12) One bullet – left base of neck 13) One bullet – Right base of neck Doctor Dutra noted the following wounds/injuries on Decedent: 1) Gunshot wound of the head - nose 2) Gunshot wound of the head – left retroauricular sulcus 3) Gunshot wound of the head – left anterior cheek (backward) 4) Gunshot wound of the head – left anterior cheek (upward) 5) Gunshot wound of the head – left lateral cheek 6) Gunshot wound of the head – margin of right chin 47 7) Gunshot wound of the head – left paramedian anterior neck (backward upward) 8) Gunshot wound of the head – left paramedian anterior neck (backward downward) 9) Gunshot wound of the chest – right mid clavicular region 10) Gunshot wound of the chest – right anterior apical shoulder 11) Gunshot wound of the chest – right anterior shoulder 12) Gunshot wound of the chest – left superior anterior chest 13) Gunshot wound of the left upper extremity (left lateral upper arm) 14) Gunshot wound of the left upper extremity – left posterolateral upper arm) 15) Gunshot wound of the chest – right anterolateral chest 16) Gunshot wound of the chest - right inferior anterior chest 17) Gunshot wound of the right upper extremity – right ulnar forearm 18) Gunshot wound of the right upper extremity – right ulnar wrist Toxicology testing revealed Decedent had in his blood 9000 ng/ml of methamphetamine, 270 ng/ml of amphetamine, a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.011, and 11 ng/ml of ethanol. The level of methamphetamine in Decedent’s blood was extremely high. Methamphetamine is a DEA schedule II stimulant drug capable of causing hallucinations, aggressive behavior, and irrational reactions. Methamphetamine is an abused substance because of its stimulatory effects and is also addictive. A peak blood concentration of methamphetamine of 20 ng/ml was reported at 2.5 hours after an oral dosage of 12.5 mg of the drug. Blood levels of 200 to 600 ng/ml have been reported in methamphetamine abusers who exhibited violent and irrational behavior. High doses of methamphetamine can also elicit restlessness, confusion, hallucinations, circulatory collapse, and convulsions. The amphetamine level in Decedent’s blood was also high, which is likely a result of amphetamine being a metabolite of methamphetamine. After a thorough review of facts and circumstances and a complete autopsy, Doctor Dutra opined Decedent died as a result of gunshot wounds of the head and torso. Doctor Dutra determined Decedent’s manner of death was homicide.