LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
A Las Vegas Metro police officer opened fire on an armed man who was holding up a 7-Eleven early Tuesday morning.
The incident happened on Jones Boulevard near Lake Mead Boulevard just after 2 a.m.
Police said the officer pulled up to a 7-Eleven when two people ran out of the business and approached him. They told the officer a robbery was taking place.
The officer went to the front door and saw a man holding a gun to the clerk, Metro said.
Police said the suspect saw the officer and pointed the weapon at him, and that was when the officer opened fire.
"This is something that we do train our officers for. At all times, they have to be vigilant – even if they are going into 7-Eleven to get a drink," said Metro's Kathy O'Conner.
"It's just getting too crazy around this area. It's escalating. I think we need more officers like him around us, who's actually at the right spot at the right time," said Edwin Plascencia, who owns a nearby business.
The suspect, identified as Lawrence Howard, 19, was transported to University Medical Center in critical but stable condition.
A second suspect - a 17-year-old - was found hiding in the back of the store and taken into custody.
Police charged Howard in absentia on charges including robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery and assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon. The juvenile suspect was also charged in the incident.
Metro said the clerk was not hurt but taken to an area hospital for observation.
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Police cars line a street near a 7-Eleven where a robbery suspect was shot. (Armando Navarro/FOX5)
(Armando Navarro/FOX5)
