North Las Vegas Releases 911 Calls and Body Cam Footage from Officer-Involved Shooting

Incident at Gas Station Ends in Police Shooting

On Sunday afternoon, a tense situation unfolded at a Maverik gas station on East Tropical Parkway and Nicco Way in North Las Vegas. According to the North Las Vegas Police Department, an incident involving a vehicle and law enforcement officers led to a shooting that left a man injured.

The event began around 1:54 p.m. when officers received reports of a suspicious vehicle near the gas station. Officer Joshua Vardoulis was identified as the officer involved in the shooting. As the police approached the scene, they encountered a black Honda Accord with a 31-year-old man named Auftan Green standing outside the driver's door.

After speaking with Officer Vardoulis, Green re-entered the car and attempted to drive away. During this escape, one of the children inside the vehicle fell out, sustaining minor facial abrasions. A second responding officer quickly moved the child to safety. The woman inside the vehicle, Kristal Leavitt, stepped out to assist the child but returned to the car once she saw the officers helping.

Initially, it seemed Green had fled the area, but he soon returned, driving at high speed toward the officers. He nearly hit the second officer and swerved toward Officer Vardoulis. In response, Vardoulis discharged five rounds from his service firearm at Green’s car, striking him in the torso. The vehicle continued forward, hitting Officer Vardoulis’s leg before leaving the lot and coming to a stop in the median on East Tropical Parkway.

Green exited the vehicle through the passenger door after police commands and was taken into custody. He was transported to UMC with multiple gunshot wounds. The other two children were taken to safety by the second responding officer, and all three children along with Leavitt were taken to the hospital for medical evaluation. Officer Vardoulis sustained minor injuries to his leg.

During the investigation, officers discovered methamphetamine, heroin, and a firearm in the vehicle. Green now faces charges including two counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon and three counts of child abuse or neglect, with additional charges pending. His criminal history includes battery with substantial bodily harm, possession of controlled substances, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, resisting a public officer, and probation violation.

Additional Details from 911 Calls

According to 911 calls released by the police department, a caller reported seeing a woman who appeared to be unconscious in the car, with small children in the backseat who were "really sweaty," along with a dog. The caller described the woman as a white female with blonde hair in a bun.

Another caller noted the car had Arizona plates and that the man in the driver's seat was drinking beer, while the woman was slumped over the steering wheel. The caller suggested the car may have been parked for some time.

A third caller informed the 911 operator that shots had been fired at the scene, and the North Las Vegas Police Department was already aware and had multiple units enroute.

This incident highlights the unpredictable nature of law enforcement encounters and the complex decisions officers must make in high-stress situations. The events at the gas station serve as a reminder of the dangers faced by both officers and civilians during such incidents.