Valley of Fire Park: Man Shot Dead After He Lunges at Ranger With A Knife

Update, July 17:

Authorities say that a man is dead after being shot by a Nevada State Park Ranger when he allegedly lunged at the ranger with a kitchen knife during a traffic stop.

Last Wednesday, The Nevada Division of State Parks said a Nevada State Park Ranger pulled over a 2003 Toyota sedan at around 12 p.m. on the Valley of Fire highway and had to use deadly force.

Authorities say the driver got out of his car during the traffic stop and lunged at the ranger with a knife.

He allegedly refused to obey multiple commands to stop while the ranger was attempting to back up and that's when the ranger fired his gun at the man.

Authorities say that at around 12:05, the ranger called out on his radio that shots had been fired and requested backup and medical assistance for the driver.

Nevada State Park Rangers and first responders from the Moapa Fire Department provided medical assistance to the man who succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene.

The Nevada Department of Public Safety Division of Investigation in their preliminary investigation of the shooting says they found several suicide notes in the car made by the driver along with self-inflicted wounds to his neck, blood on the knife and in the car.

Investigators say the evidence found showed that the self-inflicted wounds took place before the ranger made the traffic stop and the man got out of the car.

Nevada Division of State Parks says this is the first officer-involved shooting in the history of Nevada State Parks.

This is still an ongoing investigation, the names of the people involved have not yet been released.

Original Story, July 12:

On the afternoon of Wednesday, July 10, a Nevada State Park Ranger was responding to a call, when they shot their gun and one person was struck.

According to a statement by The Nevada Division of State Parks, the ranger was stationed at Valley of Fire State Park.

Authorities say medical personnel responded and the person shot was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Park Ranger was not injured.

The Nevada Division of State Parks says that the Park Ranger involved has been put on administrative leave during the investigation.

There is no further information is available at this time.

We will update you as information becomes available.