Metro Drone Helps Safely Arrest Armed Suspect

Las Vegas police deploy drone to locate and apprehend suspect who had fired a gun during an argument

Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:36pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a police drone's camera lens, lit by a harsh, direct flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic that conceptually represents the technology's role in law enforcement.The use of drones by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has enabled quicker and safer responses to dangerous situations involving firearms.Las Vegas Today

The Metropolitan Police Department in Las Vegas has expanded its drone program, which was used in a recent incident to safely arrest an armed suspect. Police responded to a report of a man firing a gun during an argument, and quickly deployed a drone from one of the department's rooftop 'skyports' to locate the suspect. The drone footage guided officers to the suspect's location, leading to a safe arrest and the recovery of the firearm.

Why it matters

The successful use of drones in this incident highlights how the technology can assist law enforcement in responding quickly and safely to dangerous situations. However, the growing use of drones by police departments has also raised concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of the data collected.

The details

According to the police department, officers responded on March 21 to a report of a man armed with a gun arguing with another person in a backyard on the 6500 block of Bannock Way. The situation escalated when the suspect began firing shots into the air. To assist, officers quickly deployed a drone from one of the department's rooftop launch pads, which located the suspect running down the street. The drone footage guided officers to the suspect's location, leading to a safe arrest and the recovery of the firearm.

  • On March 21, the incident occurred in which the suspect fired shots into the air during an argument.
  • In April 2026, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released footage of the drone-assisted arrest.

The players

Metropolitan Police Department

The law enforcement agency for the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, which has expanded its use of drones to assist in responding to dangerous situations.

Dori Koren

An assistant sheriff with the Metropolitan Police Department who oversees the department's drone program, which is expected to double the number of flights in 2026 compared to 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Officers quickly deployed a drone from an LVMPD Skyport, which located the suspect and directed officers to his exact location, leading to a safe arrest. The firearm was also recovered. This is another great example of how technology helps officers respond quickly and safely resolve dangerous situations!”

— Metropolitan Police Department

“Every flight is tied to a legitimate public safety purpose. Every (drone) flight is logged and de-conflicted and audited and the data used is limited, reviewed and policy-driven.”

— Dori Koren, Assistant Sheriff

What’s next

The Metropolitan Police Department plans to continue expanding its drone program, with the goal of doubling the number of flights in 2026 compared to the previous year.

The takeaway

The successful use of drones in this incident demonstrates how law enforcement can leverage technology to respond quickly and safely to dangerous situations. However, the growing use of drones by police departments has also raised concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of the data collected, which will likely continue to be a topic of debate.