Teens try to rob off-duty police officers

LAS VEGAS - Two men accused of trying to rob a North Las Vegas home got a painful lesson when their potential victims ended up being police officers.

Police said Chester Johnson, 18, and Taro Mitchell, 20, both armed and their faces masked, entered the garage of a North Las Vegas home and found two men playing pool Thursday night.

What they didn't know is that the pool players were off-duty Las Vegas police officers.

One of the gunmen is accused of walking up behind one of the two officers, who were not in uniform, putting a gun to his head and demanding money.

When the officer began to struggle with the suspect, the other officer pulled his gun and fired shots, police said. Johnson was struck several times. Mitchell was struck in the arm before he ran from garage.

Mitchell was arrested when he went to Lake Mead Hospital for treatment.

Johnson was in fair condition Friday at University Medical Center with gunshot wounds to his legs and head.

He and Mitchell are charged with attempted robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary and conspiracy.

Both officers are on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Their names were not released.