A domestic violence call turned fatal in Las Vegas when a man allegedly chased his girlfriend with a blowtorch before engaging officers in a gunbattle that left a teenage girl dead along with the attacker, authorities said.
Background
The incident unfolded Monday evening at a residence on Pigeon Point Court in Las Vegas. According to Assistant Sheriff Fred Haas of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call from a woman who reported her boyfriend was chasing her with a blowtorch. "He's about to burn me up!" the caller shouted at dispatchers.
The woman remained on the line with emergency operators for an extended period as she attempted to escape, eventually hiding in a bathroom after being shot, police said. She told dispatchers that Jason Simmons, 48, had set his sights on torching the entire house before officers arrived.
The Investigation
When officers entered the residence, they encountered Simmons barricaded inside a room who immediately fired seven rounds through a locked door, striking Officer Zaira Venegas-Hernandez, 36, through her Kevlar vest. The officer returned fire with her Glock 9mm, discharging 11 rounds, according to law enforcement. Another officer also returned fire as police withdrew from the home and declared a barricade situation.
"They had to deal with fire, smoke, gasoline in the area, and still responded into that residence to help those people that were in need," Haas said during a Thursday press conference. "Imagine the emotions from this department."
The 911 caller managed to escape the residence shortly before police fully arrived. She was located suffering from a gunshot wound and burns and rushed to a nearby hospital, where she remained in critical condition as of Thursday.
After Simmons reportedly told investigators he had shot himself, a SWAT team and crisis negotiators entered the home and discovered both the suspect and a teenage girl with gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Police later identified the girl as the daughter of the woman who made the 911 call. Authorities have not determined who fired the shot that struck the teenager.
Investigators recovered a .223-caliber rifle, three handguns, and a blowtorch from Simmons's possession, according to police.
The Charges
Had Simmons survived, he would have faced charges including murder, attempted murder, arson, kidnapping, mayhem, and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, Haas said. No formal charges were filed as the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
Capt. Adam Seely provided additional details to the Las Vegas Review-Journal regarding the officers' response during the standoff.
Key Takeaways
- Jason Simmons, 48, allegedly chased his girlfriend with a blowtorch before engaging police in gunfire, killing himself and a teenage girl
- Officer Zaira Venegas-Hernandez was struck through her body armor but survived; she fired back 11 rounds at the suspect
- The teenage victim was identified as the daughter of the woman Simmons allegedly attacked — authorities have not determined who shot her
- Police recovered a .223-caliber rifle, three handguns, and a blowtorch from the scene
- Had he lived, Simmons would have faced charges including murder, attempted murder, arson, kidnapping, mayhem, and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm
What's Next
The investigation remains ongoing. The adult female victim continues to recover at a Las Vegas hospital in critical condition. The Clark County Coroner's Office will determine the official cause of death for both Simmons and the teenage girl. Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the teenager's shooting as they continue their probe into the incident.
Law enforcement officials are expected to provide further updates as the investigation progresses.