The Las Vegas shooter who opened fire in an apartment complex last week had his AR-15 malfunction after getting just one round off.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrest report accuses 32-year-old Andrew Warrender of pointing his AR-15 at several people and firing at one security officer before his weapon jammed, according to documents obtained by 8 News Now. Another security guard, who was voluntarily carrying his personal firearm, then shot him.
“Warrender walks toward main lobby and quickly points and aims toward (privacy) as he is behind the front desk,” the review of video surveillance states. “(Privacy) ducks behind the front desk and almost simultaneously, Warrender fires a shot.”
The report details that a valet worker notified the security officer the gunman was standing with the gun outside the apartment complex, and “something was off” with him. The valet worker also said the gunman told him he was “not okay” and motioned as if he was going to point the rifle at him. After this encounter, the valet called the police.
Shortly after, an HOA manager said a security officer told her the suspect was armed nearby and “may start shooting people.” As the manager and her assistant tried to leave the building, the gunman saw them and motioned again with his rifle but did not point it in their direction. The manager and her assistant then hid in their office.
The report then describes the gunman approaching a different security officer who was standing behind his desk. As the security officer ducked to hide, the gunman fired his first and only round.
The surveillance footage review details the gunman’s troubles with his rifle after firing the first shot.
“Warrender appears to have a malfunction of the rifle and tries to fix it. He then places the rifle back into his shoulder and again aims the rifle in the direction (privacy) who is crouched down below the counter,” the review states. “Warrender’s finger appeared to press the trigger but because the firearm malfunctioned, no bullet was discharged.”
A third security guard told police he was trying to escape the building after the gunman entered the lobby, believing he would open fire. As the guard exited through a side door, he saw the gunman leaving through the front door and shot the attacker, hitting him in the thigh and abdomen. The 32-year-old fell to the ground, and the guard held him at gunpoint until police arrived.
The guard told police he is not required to carry a gun while working but does so by choice, and he felt deadly force was necessary to stop the gunman from killing innocent people.
The security guard’s actions were described as heroic by multiple residents who talked with local media or posted on social media.
“Homberto, who works in receiving is a hero,” Brianna Dymond, who also posted what appears to be a video of the aftermath, tweeted. “He shot the armed man and saved so many lives.”
An anonymous resident who spoke to KTNV also described him as a hero.
The security guard wasn’t alone in helping protect people in the area. Benjamin Teal, another resident of the towers, told 8 News Now his valet attendant helped save his life during the ordeal.
“My valet comes out waving his arms saying, ‘There is a guy with a gun, turn around and go the other way,’ and so we go down to the basement the first level where the valet parking is and then we heard about six to seven or eight gunshots,” he said. “It was pretty distinguishable to be a gunshot.”
The 32-year-old was reportedly a guest of his uncle, a resident of the Turnberry Towers. The uncle was not located on the premises when officers checked his room. Meanwhile, the gunman was taken to a nearby hospital, where he is recovering.
He has been charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, discharging a firearm in an occupied structure, and attempted murder.
