3-year-old dies after being shot during hostage situation, police say

LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) — A man and a child died this week after a hostage situation in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas police said officers were called to an apartment complex just after 1:15 a.m. Tuesday for reports of a man hitting a woman while attempting to remove a child.

As officers arrived, they made contact with the woman involved, who said the man was armed with a gun and had already fired it in the apartment complex’s parking lot.

People familiar with the situation said the man was attempting to place the child inside his vehicle as police arrived.

Las Vegas police Capt. Wiggins said the man took the child hostage inside a residence, prompting calls for additional law enforcement to respond.

The man then exited with a gun pointed at the child and began approaching officers. Authorities said he refused to comply with orders to drop the weapon.

Officers shot at the suspect, who also fired and struck the child, Las Vegas police said.

Medical crews provided immediate aid to the boy and transported him to a nearby hospital, but he did not survive. The child’s mother later identified him as her 3-year-old son, Kentre.

The names of those involved were not immediately released by police.

Authorities said the shooting remains under investigation.