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Harry Ex
Nine shots were fired at Harvey Ex, a despondent 53-year-old felon who fired five shots from a .32-caliber revolver he purchased from a South Shore dealer hours before he died at Harrah's Lake Tahoe, authorities confirmed Monday.
Ex injured two Douglas County sheriff's deputies, Erik Eissinger and Dan Nelson, who were treated and released from hospital care after the Saturday afternoon incident.
The deputies are on paid administrative leave, a protocol when officers discharge their weapons.
Douglas County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Tom Mezzetta said Ex's female companion notified casino security that Ex was armed and suicidal. Security staff then notified the sheriff's department. Eissinger and Nelson were the responding deputies. Gunfire was exchanged at the casino's Tahoe Diamond Lounge.
Nelson fired eight rounds while Eissinger fired once, Mezzetta said.
"All rounds fired from the officers hit their target," Mezzetta said.
Ex injured two Douglas County sheriff's deputies, Erik Eissinger and Dan Nelson, who were treated and released from hospital care after the Saturday afternoon incident.
The deputies are on paid administrative leave, a protocol when officers discharge their weapons.
Douglas County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Tom Mezzetta said Ex's female companion notified casino security that Ex was armed and suicidal. Security staff then notified the sheriff's department. Eissinger and Nelson were the responding deputies. Gunfire was exchanged at the casino's Tahoe Diamond Lounge.
Nelson fired eight rounds while Eissinger fired once, Mezzetta said.
"All rounds fired from the officers hit their target," Mezzetta said.
Washoe County coroner's office reported Ex died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Authorities said they didn't know what prompted the woman to notify casino security about Ex's behavior. With Ex pulling the trigger of his own gun, believed to have been purchased at Guns of Tahoe hours earlier, Mezzetta said it's difficult to term Ex's death suicide by a law enforcement officer.
"He certainly did more than flash the weapon," Mezzetta said. "He fired the weapon and struck them. I don't know if that was what he was hoping for. Most suicide by cops aren't to that extent."
Ex had a criminal history. In late September, a term of two to 15 years behind bars was suspended for five years probation, according to Kim Evans of the Nevada Division of Public Safety.
The sentence stemmed from a guilty plea Ex entered in Las Vegas on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily injury, Evans said.
On Sept. 30, Ex submitted a request to be supervised in California. Douglas County Sheriff's Department listed Ex's home location as Sunset Beach, a San Diego suburb.
Evans said Ex posed no problems.
Authorities said they didn't know what prompted the woman to notify casino security about Ex's behavior. With Ex pulling the trigger of his own gun, believed to have been purchased at Guns of Tahoe hours earlier, Mezzetta said it's difficult to term Ex's death suicide by a law enforcement officer.
"He certainly did more than flash the weapon," Mezzetta said. "He fired the weapon and struck them. I don't know if that was what he was hoping for. Most suicide by cops aren't to that extent."
Ex had a criminal history. In late September, a term of two to 15 years behind bars was suspended for five years probation, according to Kim Evans of the Nevada Division of Public Safety.
The sentence stemmed from a guilty plea Ex entered in Las Vegas on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily injury, Evans said.
On Sept. 30, Ex submitted a request to be supervised in California. Douglas County Sheriff's Department listed Ex's home location as Sunset Beach, a San Diego suburb.
Evans said Ex posed no problems.
"He was compliant with all the conditions of his probation," Evans said.
Ex did not listen to and walked away from authorities Saturday, Mezzetta said. Ex refused to obey the two deputies' orders to stop and show his hands. When one of the deputies spotted Ex reaching into his waistband, a scuffle ensued and Ex aimed behind him, firing the .32-caliber handgun from his right hand under his left armpit, Mezzetta said. Who fired first still remains under investigation.
Eissinger was hit in the stomach, but a bulletproof vest stopped the bullet. Two bullets struck Nelson. One shattered a bone in his left forearm while the other struck him in the hip, traveling around his body and resting in his back, Mezzetta said.
Although the Brady Bill prohibits felons from purchasing guns, the antique guns were exempt of any background checks or waiting periods.
Casino Communications Manager John Packer said Harrah's is conducting its own internal investigation into the shooting.
"After anything that happens like this ... we will always do our own internal investigation and make sure that everything was done correctly and that we do have outstanding surveillance and security," Packer said.
The casino experienced a previous violent incident last month. On Nov. 27, two security guards were stabbed in the neck by a man being removed from Club Altitude.
Ex did not listen to and walked away from authorities Saturday, Mezzetta said. Ex refused to obey the two deputies' orders to stop and show his hands. When one of the deputies spotted Ex reaching into his waistband, a scuffle ensued and Ex aimed behind him, firing the .32-caliber handgun from his right hand under his left armpit, Mezzetta said. Who fired first still remains under investigation.
Eissinger was hit in the stomach, but a bulletproof vest stopped the bullet. Two bullets struck Nelson. One shattered a bone in his left forearm while the other struck him in the hip, traveling around his body and resting in his back, Mezzetta said.
Although the Brady Bill prohibits felons from purchasing guns, the antique guns were exempt of any background checks or waiting periods.
Casino Communications Manager John Packer said Harrah's is conducting its own internal investigation into the shooting.
"After anything that happens like this ... we will always do our own internal investigation and make sure that everything was done correctly and that we do have outstanding surveillance and security," Packer said.
The casino experienced a previous violent incident last month. On Nov. 27, two security guards were stabbed in the neck by a man being removed from Club Altitude.
The two guards survived. Hand-held metal detectors now meet people going into the club and the number of security guards has increased, Packer said.
In addition, a man collapsed and died at Altitude nightclub in Harrah's on Thursday night for unknown reasons, according to Douglas County Sheriff's Department.
Undersheriff Bob Rudnick said their respondents to the scene could find no immediately apparent reason for the death of Juan "Pepe" Ortega. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate the man, but were unsuccessful, he said.
"We don't have any rhyme or reasons as to why this incident occurred," said Rudnick. "There were paramedics readily available and they could not revive him."
An autopsy by Washoe County coronor's office revealed no cause for death. Toxicology results, which will determine whether Ortega had drugs in his system, are due in about six weeks.
Harrah's employs people trained as first responders, who are available around the clock at the casino.
- Tribune reporter Amanda Fehd contributed to this article
In addition, a man collapsed and died at Altitude nightclub in Harrah's on Thursday night for unknown reasons, according to Douglas County Sheriff's Department.
Undersheriff Bob Rudnick said their respondents to the scene could find no immediately apparent reason for the death of Juan "Pepe" Ortega. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate the man, but were unsuccessful, he said.
"We don't have any rhyme or reasons as to why this incident occurred," said Rudnick. "There were paramedics readily available and they could not revive him."
An autopsy by Washoe County coronor's office revealed no cause for death. Toxicology results, which will determine whether Ortega had drugs in his system, are due in about six weeks.
Harrah's employs people trained as first responders, who are available around the clock at the casino.
- Tribune reporter Amanda Fehd contributed to this article
