Bodycam footage shows moments leading up to North Las Vegas police shooting 15-year-old suspect

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — North Las Vegas police body camera footage shows the moments leading up to police shooting a 15-year-old suspect during a car burglary investigation.

On Aug. 28 around 12:30 a.m., North Las Vegas police were investigating a series of vehicle burglaries that occurred in the area of Valley Drive and Washburn Road. In total, there were 12 vehicles burglarized at nine locations, police said.

Around 2:55 a.m., officers received a report of a vehicle being broken into in the 5100 block of Rocky Bluff Street after the alarm awoke the vehicle’s owner and he saw someone inside his vehicle.

Just after 3 a.m., two uniformed officers in an unmarked vehicle located a suspect who matched the description in the 4300 block of Matinee Avenue. When officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, the suspect “immediately” raised a gun and fired two shots at the officers.

As a result, one of the officers discharged his weapon three times at the suspect. The suspect then led officers on a short pursuit, during which he fired another two rounds, police said. Both officers then discharged the firearms, one firing three times and the other firing one time.

The suspect then went into the backyard of a residence where he, unsuccessfully, tried to hop the back wall. The suspect then surrendered and was taken into custody.

In the footage, the officers can be heard telling the suspect to stop and at one point an officer can be heard telling the suspect “I’ll [expletive] kill you, stop. Drop your gun.”

The 15-year-old suspect was shot once in the left arm and officers applied a tourniquet to his arm before medical personnel arrived and took him to a local hospital, police said.

When the suspect was discharged from the hospital, he was taken to the Clark County Juvenile Hall where he was booked on two counts of attempted murder on a protected person, 12 counts of burglary while in possession of a firearm, four counts of discharging a firearm where a person might be endangered, resisting a police officer while in possession of a firearm, possession of burglary tools, and a minor in possession of a firearm, according to police.

Due to the suspect’s age, his name and booking photo will not be released.

The firearm that the suspect had in his possession was stolen from a family member he lived with, however, the family member declined to press charges. The suspect also had a screwdriver, pocket knife, and a face mask in his possession.

The officers involved in the shooting were identified as Officer Joshua Vardoulis, who was hired by NVLPD in 2020, and Officer Jesse Meyer, who was hired by NVLPD in 2023. In total, Vardoilis fired six shots and Meyer fired one. Both officers were placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

North Las Vegas did not hold a live news conference so 8 News Now was not able to ask any questions regarding the shooting.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.