Officer involved in shooting identified

The Las Vegas officer who shot and killed a man running from police Monday night was identified late Wednesday as Detective Casey Clarkson.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police Department said Clarkson, 28, has been employed with the department since September 2006. He is assigned to the gang crimes unit.

Bernard Pate, 37, of Las Vegas died from a gunshot wound to the upper back, according to the Clark County coroner’s office.

Officers with the gang crimes unit saw Pate “acting suspiciously” about 11 p.m. in a courtyard at 4450 Karen Ave., near Sahara Avenue and Lamb Boulevard. When officers approached him, he ran, police said.

During a short foot pursuit, police said, “shots were fired” and Pate was killed. A gun “believed to be the suspect’s” was found by the body, police said.

Seven officers were involved in the incident. Only Clarkson fired.

Police did not say whether the man pointed a gun at officers before he was shot. Police do not think he fired his weapon.

Clarkson was placed on routine paid administrative leave.

According to police, Pate was a sex offender with an extensive criminal history. In 2007, he was arrested on a total of 14 sexual abuse charges involving children in two separate instances.