LAS VEGAS (AP) - A coroner's inquest jury has ruled that a Las Vegas police officer was justified in a fatal shooting of a man who fired at the officer.

The jury returned its unanimous verdict Friday after 15 minutes of deliberating on the case involving officer Blake Penny.

Penny shot and killed 29-year-old Dominic Nieto in June after a police chase.

Nieto had been involved in an early morning altercation at the
Penthouse Club. When police arrived, Nieto fled before overturning a Hummer H3 and firing at Penny, striking him just below the right knee.

Penny testified that returned fire after he was shot.

Autopsy results indicated Nieto had high levels of methamphetamine and alcohol in his system at the time of his death.

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Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-08-02-08 1510EDT