MARCH 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.3

AROUND THE COUNTRYNORTH

AROUND THE COUNTRYNORTH LAS VEGAS, NV.Officer Jason Roscow was shot and killed while responding toa report of a subject brandishing a gun at a resident.38 The BLUES - MARCH ‘25LAS VEGAS, NV. — North LasVegas Police Officer JasonRoscow was struck by gunfirefive times in a shootout with aconvicted felon after respondingto 911 calls of a man walkingaround a neighborhood armedwith a gun and throwing rocks atcars, officials said Wednesday.Roscow, 46, a 17-year veteranof the police force died as aresult of his injuries. The shooter,Alexander Mathis, 25, alsodied after Roscow shot him onTuesday, Feb. 4, near West LoneMountain Road and Camino AlNorte, in a neighborhood locatednear Craig Ranch Park.As officers arrived at the sceneand confronted Mathis, he ignoredpolice commands andran through the neighborhood,even jumping into a backyard.Police said Roscow was the firstto arrive on the street whereMathis emerged from behind ahouse. When Roscow commandedMathis to show his hands, thegunfire erupted.“Officer Roscow’s seen movingto his left using the parked jeepas his barrier between Mathisand himself. Mathis approachedhim and the two exchanged gunfire,”said Assistant Chief of PoliceAdam Hyde, North Las VegasPolice Department.During a news briefing, NorthLas Vegas Assistant Chief of PoliceAdam Hyde said Mathis diedfrom a single gunshot wound. Ifhe had survived he would havefaced a slew of charges includingmurder of a police officer,assault with a deadly weapon,and attempt to elude a policeofficer.“Officer Roscow’s passingserves as a reminder of theextreme dangers that men andwomen in uniform face everyday,” North Las Vegas Chief ofPolice Jacqueline Gravatt said.Body-worn camera footage ofthe shooting was released showingthe gunfire between Roscowand Mathis.A second officer identified asLuis Macias-Venegas arrived atthe scene and fired one shot.Mathis was convicted in 2019for carrying a concealed weaponand had an active bench warrantout for his arrest for petty larceny,Hyde said. Mathis pleadedno contest to the gun charge, the8 News Now Investigators firstreported after the shooting. Ajudge sentenced him to a suspendedsix-month jail sentenceOFFICER JASON ROSCOW— meaning he would only go tojail if he faced a new charge. Healso had to forfeit the weapon.Police also released two 911calls where people reportedMathis was armed and throwingrocks.Police said the investigationis in its preliminary stages andis ongoing. Assistant Chief ofPolice Michael Harris would nottake any questions from reportersat the news briefing.The funeral service for Roscow,who leaves behind two youngboys, was held on Thursday, Feb.13 at Central Church in Henderson.

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