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Sandra Lopez-Ochoa

Age : 25

Gender : Female

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 08/25/2023

Location : 3650 East Lake Mead Boulevard

City : Las Vegas

County : Clark

State : Nevada

Agency : Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

Officer(s) :Rudy Sacba

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during attempted arrest following domestic violence call

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/25/2023, at approximately 1:04 a.m., Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to an apartment in the 3600 block of East Lake Mead Boulevard near North Pecos Road after two calls concerning a domestic disturbance. Sandra Lopez-Ochoa, 25, and her brother separately contacted police. Her brother alleged that Lopez-Ochoa had battered him, while Lopez-Ochoa called police to report a domestic disturbance.
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Officers Rudy Sacba and Andrew Belmonte responded and first spoke with Lopez-Ochoa's brother outside the apartment. After interviewing him, officers determined that they had probable cause to arrest Lopez-Ochoa for domestic battery by strangulation. They then entered the apartment and found Lopez-Ochoa sitting on a couch.
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Body-camera video documented the officers speaking with Lopez-Ochoa for several minutes. During the conversation, Lopez-Ochoa noticed Sacba's hand resting near his holstered firearm and specifically asked him to move it away from his gun. Sacba responded that he was resting his hand there and was not holding the firearm.
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When officers moved to arrest Lopez-Ochoa, Belmonte took hold of her left arm to place her in handcuffs. Video showed Lopez-Ochoa reach toward the couch and retrieve a kitchen knife. She then turned and struck Belmonte in the top of the head with the knife, causing a bleeding wound.
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According to LVMPD's reconstruction and body-camera evidence, Lopez-Ochoa then turned toward Sacba while still holding the knife. Sacba drew his Glock 17 9mm handgun and fired five rounds at Lopez-Ochoa. The gunfire struck her and she fell inside the apartment.
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Sacba immediately radioed that his partner had been stabbed and requested medical assistance. Belmonte was bleeding from the head and was transported to University Medical Center. He was treated and subsequently released from the hospital. Medical personnel pronounced Lopez-Ochoa dead at the apartment.
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LVMPD's Force Investigation Team conducted the criminal investigation. The department also conducted administrative and tactical reviews of Sacba's use of deadly force.
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On 05/30/2024, the Clark County District Attorney's Office announced its preliminary determination that criminal prosecution of the officer involved in Lopez-Ochoa's death was not appropriate and called for a Police Fatality Public Fact-Finding Review.
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The subsequent Clark County District Attorney legal analysis concluded that Sacba's use of deadly force was legally justified. LVMPD's Use of Force Review Board separately issued an Administrative Approval finding, concluding that Sacba's force was objectively reasonable under the circumstances and within department policy.
OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Rudy Sacba was 32 at the time he killed Lopez-Ochoa. He joined LVMPD in 2021 and was assigned to the East Community Policing Division's Northeast Area Command. Following the shooting, LVMPD placed him on routine paid administrative leave pending review.
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LVMPD's subsequent internal review specifically examined Sacba's actions during the fatal shooting. The department's Use of Force Review Board issued an Administrative Approval determination, finding that his use of deadly force was objectively reasonable based on the circumstances known to him at the time and complied with department policy.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.fox5vegas.com/2023/08/28/las-vegas-police-give-update-friday-shooting-suspect-who-stabbed-officer/
https://www.fox5vegas.com/2023/08/25/las-vegas-police-officer-injured-shooting-near-lake-mead-pecos/
https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/shootings/woman-fatally-shot-by-officer-stabbed-officer-strangled-brother-police-say-2895095/
https://www.lvmpd.com/home/showpublisheddocument/3250/638348685933670000
https://www.lvmpd.com/home/showpublisheddocument/6266/638651992434400000
https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/assets/documents/government/departments/district_attorney/legal-analysis-surronding-the-death-of-sandra-lopez-ochoa-on-august-25-2023.pdf