Police fatally shoot suicidal man holding knife in distress incident

The Clark County Police Fatality Public Fact-finding Review held on April 17, 2025, focused on the tragic incident involving Robert Pitcher, who was shot by police after a distress call from family members. The meeting provided insights into the events leading up to the shooting, the actions taken by law enforcement, and the subsequent autopsy findings.

Family members reported that Pitcher had been struggling with severe depression, particularly following the funeral of his son. Despite their efforts to encourage him to seek help, he refused. On the day of the incident, family members noticed Pitcher was missing and believed he was in distress, prompting them to call the police for assistance.

Officers arrived at the scene after being informed that Pitcher was armed with a knife and behaving erratically. Officer Maharo located Pitcher near a pool area, where he was seen holding a knife to his neck. Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, including the deployment of less-lethal options, Pitcher did not comply with police commands and instead threw a trash can at the officers. This led to the officers firing their weapons, resulting in multiple gunshot wounds that ultimately caused Pitcher's death.

An autopsy conducted by the Clark County coroner confirmed the cause of death as homicide due to multiple gunshot wounds, with a toxicology report revealing a small amount of THC in his system. The timeline of events indicated that the police response was swift, with officers arriving on the scene within minutes of the initial call.

The meeting highlighted the complexities faced by law enforcement when responding to individuals in crisis, particularly when weapons are involved. The discussion underscored the need for careful consideration of public safety and the challenges officers encounter in such high-stress situations.

As the review continues, the findings will contribute to ongoing discussions about police response protocols and mental health crisis interventions in Clark County.