Knife-wielding man charged at ranger before deadly shooting at Valley of Fire State Park

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – The man shot and killed by a park ranger at Valley of Fire State Park charged at the ranger with a kitchen knife during a traffic stop before the first officer-involved shooting in Nevada State Park history, according to the Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS).

Rafael Rodriguez-Aguayo, 38, of Las Vegas died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Clark County Coroner’s Office.

The shooting occurred Wednesday, July 10. Officials closed the park to visitors during the investigation, and it did not reopen until Friday, July 12.

Before the shooting, park investigators determined that Rodriguez-Aguayo entered the park at 10:05 a.m. based on a receipt found in the vehicle. A park ranger pulled him over in a traffic stop at noon.

Both Rodriguez-Aguayo and the ranger exited their vehicles, investigators said. That’s when he charged toward the ranger with a kitchen knife, according to DPS.

The park ranger gave Rodriguez-Aguayo several verbal commands to stop but he did not comply. He was then shot by the ranger, and moments later responding rangers administered first aid.

At 12:34 p.m. first responders arrived at the scene, but by 12:53 p.m. Rodriguez-Aguayo was pronounced dead, according to DPS.

Inside Rodriguez-Aguayo’s 2003 Toyota vehicle, investigators found multiple suicide notes, blood on the knife, and in the car. Investigators also identified wounds consistent with a knife on his neck.

The Nevada Department of Public Safety declined to release the identity of the park ranger involved in the shooting.

“Out of respect for those involved in this incident, and respect for their families, neither the park ranger nor the deceased, will be named,” NDPS stated.

“Our park ranger was presented with a life-threatening situation and responded to the threat in a manner consistent with the agency’s policy, training, and established Nevada law,” Nevada Division of State Parks Administrator Bob Mergell stated.

There is no video of the shooting as rangers are not required to wear body cameras, and there are no dashcam recorders on their vehicles, according to investigators.

It was the first officer-involved shooting in the history of Nevada State Parks.

DPS continues to investigate.

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