Man Shot by N. Las Vegas Police Charged with Attempted Murder

A Disturbing Encounter at a Gas Station

A man from Mesquite was charged with two counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon after being shot multiple times by North Las Vegas police. The incident occurred when the man, Auftan Green, 31, allegedly hit an officer with his car and then fled the scene.

According to North Las Vegas police, Green attempted to strike officers while driving a black Honda Accord at a gas station located at East Tropical Parkway and Nicco Way on Sunday. Police released video of the encounter on Wednesday, which showed Green fleeing in his vehicle while being questioned by officers after a call about a suspicious vehicle at the gas pump.

The video captured a chaotic scene at the gas station, with civilians watching as events unfolded. In the footage, Green was seen standing outside his vehicle as officers asked him questions. However, he suddenly got into the car and drove off.

Shortly after, the vehicle returned to the area of the gas pumps, where it narrowly missed a child and an officer. The officer, who had pulled the child to safety, was identified as Joshua Vardoulis, a member of the North Las Vegas Police Department since 2020.

“Officers initially believed Green had left the area, but he circled the parking lot before returning at a high rate of speed,” said North Las Vegas officer Djuan Muldrew in a prepared video statement released Wednesday night.

As the car veered toward Vardoulis, the officer fired five rounds at the vehicle. Muldrew stated that Green was shot multiple times but survived. He was treated for his wounds at University Medical Center. As of Wednesday evening, Green was being held at Clark County Detention Center, according to online jail records. Vardoulis suffered a minor injury to one of his legs after being struck by the vehicle.

Vardoulis has been placed on paid leave pending the results of an internal investigation, Muldrew said.

A Call That Led to Chaos

When officers arrived at the gas station Sunday afternoon, they noticed a woman, three children, and a dog were with Green in the car. As Green fled, one of the children fell out of the vehicle. That child, a young girl, suffered a minor injury.

While Green operated the vehicle, two children remained in the back seat. The children were there when Vardoulis fired shots at Green, but they were not struck by the gunfire. After a search of the car, police found methamphetamine, heroin, and a firearm, Muldrew said.

In addition to the two counts of attempted murder, Green was charged with three counts of child abuse or neglect, police said, and additional charges could be forthcoming. The woman from the vehicle, identified Wednesday as Kristal Leavitt, was charged with five counts of child abuse or neglect.

Green’s criminal history in Nevada includes robbery, assault, and drug-related charges, according to online records. Court records show that Leavitt has previously been charged with credit card fraud, battery, and drug possession.

Following the incident Sunday, after they were all checked at a local hospital, police said the three children were taken by Clark County Child Protective Services. The primary guardian for the children, police said, is a relative.