North Las Vegas police release body-camera footage after man dies following arrest

North Las Vegas police have released body-camera footage, 911 information and a critical-incident briefing about the July 19 arrest of Daniel Lujan Jr., who later died after being taken into custody in the 6000 block of Yellowhammer Place.

The material presents the department’s account of the confrontation and gives residents additional evidence to review. It does not, by itself, determine whether the force used was legally or administratively justified.

What police say happened

According to the briefing reported by KTNV, North Las Vegas police received multiple 911 calls at about 11:56 a.m. reporting an armed man in the 6000 block of Yellowhammer Place. One caller reported seeing a person with a rifle at a front door.

Police said Lujan was found lying in the street and stood up as officers moved to take him into custody. The department said he resisted, assumed a fighting stance and struggled with officers.

During the struggle, police said Lujan grabbed an officer’s rifle, which was slung across the officer’s chest. Body-camera audio included in the release captured an officer saying that Lujan had the officer’s gun.

The department said officers repeatedly ordered Lujan to release the rifle. Police said he was first shocked with a Taser and moved onto his stomach. When he kept his hands beneath his body and did not show them after additional commands, officers used a second Taser deployment and a baton to free one of his arms before handcuffing him.

Medical response and death

After Lujan was handcuffed, officers observed bleeding from his head and requested medical assistance, according to the briefing. Police said he soon became unresponsive.

Officers checked for a pulse, performed CPR and administered naloxone. The lifesaving efforts continued during transport, but Lujan was pronounced dead at University Medical Center at 12:57 p.m., police said.

KTNV reported that officers did not discharge their firearms during the incident. The report also said one officer suffered a hand injury and was hospitalized. Police said no neighborhood residents were injured.

Investigation remains open

Officers involved in administering physical force were placed on paid administrative leave under North Las Vegas police policy. That status is administrative and does not indicate that an officer has been cleared or found at fault.

The release followed an earlier statement from the North Las Vegas Police Supervisors Association, reported by News 3, saying body-camera footage would show Lujan trying to grab an officer’s rifle and that officers used appropriate force. North Las Vegas police previously said the incident remained under investigation.

The union’s statement and the department’s briefing are separate accounts from parties connected to the incident. Neither is an independent final finding on the legality or appropriateness of the force.

What remains unresolved

The official cause and manner of Lujan’s death, along with any prosecutorial or administrative conclusions about the arrest, remain unresolved in the materials reviewed for this report. The police release adds footage and dispatch information for public review, but it does not establish whether the force was justified or whether any officer violated policy or law.

Anyone with relevant information was asked by North Las Vegas police to call 702-633-9111.

Sources

• KTNV — NLVPD shares new details after man 'randomly firing' AR-15 dies after arrest
• News 3 — Police union says body camera will show AR-15 suspect tried to grab officer's rifle
• North Las Vegas Police Department