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, demise of Justin Davidson, 36. That day, Davidson, of Henderson, was firing a gun close to his household residence at Placid Road and Maulding Avenue in southeast Las Vegas. The pictures woke up Davidson’s dad and mom, who police mentioned believed he was firing within the desert wash behind the house.
Photograph of Justin Davidson supplied by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division
His dad and mom drove to the wash and received 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 mentioned Davidson then approached a locked Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division cruiser, shot out the window, received inside, and took off.
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Surveillance footage from a gasoline station close to Durango Drive and Heat Springs Street confirmed Davidson then pulled up behind a blue Ford Raptor seconds after a person received out of the automotive to pump gasoline. 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 situated Davidson at a gasoline station close to Blue Diamond Street 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 tug over close to the intersection at Mistral Avenue. Physique digital camera footage then captured Davidson exiting the crimson SUV and heading to the passenger aspect 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.”
Davidson fired a shot into the motive force’s aspect window of the van, placing Lopez-Martinez. Davidson ran to the passenger’s aspect, 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 situated Davison useless within the car, affected by a number of gunshot wounds, police mentioned.
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 occasions, police mentioned.
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 line with police.
The Clark County District Legal professional’s workplace made the preliminary willpower that no legal prosecution of the officers concerned within the demise of Davidson is suitable.
Police searched the desert wash close to Davidson’s residence 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 making ready for a confrontation with officers.
As well as, police discovered digital gadgets, path cameras, bulletproof vests, tactical helmets, firearms, and elements that police believed might be used to create firearm suppressors at Davidson’s residence in Las Vegas. At his Henderson residence, regulation enforcement discovered extra notebooks and electronics. Investigators famous that in addition they discovered army manuals and paperwork detailing police response to mass-casualty occasions.
Davidson’s legal historical past
Davidson had an intensive legal historical past relationship again to 2009 along 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 mentioned.
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In March 2023, Davidson was arrested for driving with a deadly quantity of fentanyl in his system. Police mentioned Davidson instructed the trooper he was not beneath the affect, however took “a root that helps you think better,” paperwork mentioned. The trooper suspected Davidson was impaired after a discipline sobriety check.
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 check. The check got here again constructive for fentanyl, hydrocodone, methadone and THC, troopers mentioned. Police issued a warrant for Davidson’s arrest in August on a DUI cost, data mentioned. He was
In 2012, a federal grand jury charged Davidson for distributing oxycodone and for being a felon in possession of a firearm, data mentioned. Davidson’s drug conviction prevented him from possessing a gun, prosecutors mentioned on the time. A federal decide sentenced Davidson to 57 months in jail, data mentioned. Davidson was then incarcerated at a California facility.
