UPDATE 4/23/2025: OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING INVESTIGATION- BULLHEAD CITY

Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Detectives are continuing their investigation into an Officer Involved Shooting incident that occurred on April 3, 2025 involving two Bullhead City Police Department Officers. The Bullhead City Police Department Officers involved in this incident have been identified as Matt Sloan (2 years combined law enforcement experience) and David Cornelison (19-year veteran of BHCPD).

After being identified as a suspect in a vehicle theft and foot pursuit that occurred earlier that day, Officers with the Bullhead City Police Department located Erick Tom Watkins, 48 of Bullhead City, in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 1600 block of Highway 95. As Officer Sloan pulled into the complex, Watkins pulled a handgun and pointed it at him. As Officer Sloan exited his fully marked patrol unit, Watkins immediately began firing at him. The Officer engaged Watkins in gunfire. A second officer, Officer Cornelison, arrived and also engaged with gunfire. During the gunfire, Watkins was struck several times. Officers performed life saving measures and requested medical personnel to the scene. Bullhead City Fire Department responded, however Watkins had succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.

The body of the decedent was removed from the scene by the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office. A records check later revealed that Watkins had several felony arrest warrants out of California, to include Possessing Obscene Matter of a Minor and Forgery. This investigation is ongoing.

On Thursday (4/3) at approximately 1:42 PM, Deputies with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of S. Pearl St. and E. Chaparral Rd. (Fort Mohave) in reference to the theft of a mail truck that had just occurred.  The driver of the mail truck was away from their vehicle when an unknown vehicle had pulled up.  The passenger of the vehicle exited and jumped into the mail truck.  The driver of the mail truck fled, followed by the other vehicle.

 

At approximately 2:49 PM, officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department located the vehicle believed to have been involved in this incident.  The vehicle was unoccupied in a parking lot in the 2900 block of S. Casino Dr. (Laughlin).  There was evidence of the theft observed inside the vehicle.  Officers were able to review video surveillance and identify two subjects that had driven this vehicle to this location.  A short time later, one of the persons was located behind the building along the river.  When approached, the subject pointed a handgun in the direction of the officer.  As the officer took cover, the subject took off running.  The officer pursued the subject to a boat dock further down the river.  The subject then stole a boat and fled to the Arizona side of the river.  The subject ran the boat aground and fled into an apartment complex in the 1600 block of Highway 95 (Bullhead City).

 

At approximately 3:41 PM, officers with the Bullhead City Police Department located the subject in the parking lot of an apartment complex located in the 1600 block of Highway 95.  As an officer pulled into the complex, the subject pulled a handgun and pointed it at the officer.  As the officer exited his vehicle, the subject immediately began firing at the officer.  The officer engaged the subject in gunfire.  A second officer arrived and also engaged the subject with gunfire.  During the gunfire, the subject was struck.  Officers performed life saving measures and summonsed medical personnel to the scene.  However, the subject had succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. The subject has been identified as Erick Tom Watkins, 48 of Bullhead City. A records check revealed Watkins had multiple active felony warrants.

 

At approximately 3:45 PM, the stolen mail truck was located abandoned approximately four miles from where it had been stolen.  Mail and personal items from the truck had been removed. The second suspect involved in the vehicle theft is still outstanding, however they were not involved in the shooting. Anyone with information on the second suspect is encouraged to contact our office at 928-753-0753