HENDERSON (KSNV MyNews3) -- Gunshots Wednesday afternoon from inside the Henderson Albertsons on Boulder Highway and East Lake Mead Drive alarmed employees at a nearby dental office.
“People were running, and it sounded like gunshots, but we weren't sure what was going on,” said dental assistant Dottie Borden. “The next thing we knew there were sirens, and it was kind of scary.”
Henderson Police said a man with a gun barricaded himself in a bathroom in Albertsons.
Police said the gun appeared to be a semi-automatic, but they later discovered it was a pellet gun.
“Police arrived and were told initially that he may have a child with him in the bathroom,” said Henderson Police spokesman Keith Paul.
Paul said the SWAT team tried talking the man out.
“The door opened up, and he came out gun first, pointing the gun at the officers,” said Paul.
Paul said they had no choice but to shoot him.
“When the gun came out and was pointed directly at them, they had no other option but to fire,” said Paul.
A child was not found, but a baby doll was.
In the meantime, store employees waited in the parking lot behind police tape.
They told News 3 they could not talk about what happened inside.
Borden described the employees with frightened faces as they ran out of the store.
“They were scared,” said Borden. “I mean it was kind of scary. You don't really know what's going on. You hear loud noises and sirens, and you wonder if you're safe.”
Police said the three SWAT officers who shot at the man are now on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.
The man they shot was listed in critical condition Wednesday night.
