Metro Police ID officer involved in deadly weekend shooting

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Ricardo Torres-Cortez

Metro Police block off traffic on Fremont Street, near downtown Las Vegas, while they investigate the death of a reckless driver who was shot by an officer during a traffic stop Dec. 1, 2018.

Mon, Dec 3, 2018 (10:23 a.m.)

Metro Police have identified an officer they say fatally shot a motorist who was stopped for reckless driving and started fighting the patrolman.

Officer Paul Bruning, 48, has been placed on routine paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of a review of the shooting, police said. He has been with Metro since January 2005.

According to police, Bruning stopped the driver for speeding and reckless driving Saturday morning near 18th Street and Sunrise Avenue. After the motorist reached for a “large, bulky item” at his waist, Bruning grabbed him and they began to fight, police said.

The officer shocked the man with a stun gun, but the driver continued to fight, prompting Bruning to open fire, police said. Police were not immediately able to answer whether the subject was armed.

The driver was taken to University Medical Center, where he died, police said.

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