Oregon Man Shot During Alleged Child Abduction Attempt at Las Vegas Airport

Las Vegas officers shot Allgood and rescued the child unharmed, amidst bystanders at the 11th busiest airport in the world.

The McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada Photo courtesy: 68thahc.com

(LAS VEGAS) - An Oregon man is in critical condition at a Las Vegas, Nevada hospital after being shot by police during an alleged child abduction attempt at McCarran Airport.

Police say that on Tuesday at approximately 4:24 PM, a mother and her 3-year-old son were in a toy store at McCarran Airport. They were waiting for their flight to depart.

Without warning police say, 19-year-old Michael John Allgood of Oregon grabbed the small child and put a knife to the boy`s throat. While clutching the child tightly, Allgood ran through the exit lane of the crowded passenger security checkpoint of the A-B Gates.

Allgood was immediately challenged by a uniformed LVMPD officer stationed inside the security gate. This officer tried to negotiate with Allgood to get him to release the child. He was soon joined by several other uniformed officers.

The officers established a loose moving perimeter around Allgood and the boy to prevent him from penetrating further into the secure gate area. The officers say they repeatedly tried to get Allgood to take the knife away from the petrified child`s throat and surrender, but he refused and shouted at the officers.

A police spokesman says the officers had to exercise great restraint due to the numerous travelers who had now gathered behind the officers to watch the confrontation.

At one point Allgood loosened his grasp on the boy and took the knife away from the child`s throat in order to lunge at one of the officers. The officers say they realized this may be the only opportunity to save the small child.

One officer discharged his Electronic Control Device, which is more commonly referred to as a Tazer. Simultaneously two other officers fired one time each with their handguns.

Allgood was struck by the bullets and released the child. Officers then took him into custody. He was taken to University Medical Center Trauma Unit and in currently in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds.

None of the officers or numerous bystanders were injured. The child did not suffer any physical injuries, but was quite upset by the incident according to police.

Once his condition has stabilized, Allgood will be arrested for Kidnap with Use of a Deadly Weapon and Felony Child Endangerment. Detectives have learned that Allgood suffers from mental illness and has a prior violent confrontation with police in his home state of Oregon.

Homicide detectives working jointly with the Department of Homeland Security`s Transportation Security Administration have concluded this incident is in no way terrorist related.