Montana Woman Allegedly Points Gun at Nevada Troopers in Late-Night Traffic Stop
A late-night traffic stop in Nevada descended into chaos when a Montana woman allegedly pointed a firearm at state troopers and screamed, 'I will shoot!' The incident, captured on bodycam and dash-cam footage, unfolded near the Interstate 15 on-ramp at St. Rose Parkway early Sunday morning.
Traffic Violation Escalates to Armed Confrontation
Police reported that 51-year-old Barbara Lu of Montana ran a red light and nearly caused a crash just before 12:50 a.m. on Sunday, prompting a trooper to pull her over. The officer observed signs of possible driving under the influence (DUI) and instructed Lu to step out of her SUV, but she refused to comply.
When the trooper reached through her partially opened window to unlock the door, Lu began screaming erratically. One of her dogs then lunged from the vehicle and attacked the officer before she called it back, according to authorities. Lu subsequently locked herself inside the SUV, leading the trooper to call for backup.
Troopers Respond to Gun Threat
Trooper Kenneth Ducut arrived at the scene and warned Lu that he would break the window if she continued to ignore commands. Dash-cam footage showed two troopers attempting to shatter the glass when one suddenly yelled, 'She's got a gun!' causing both officers to pull back.
Investigators stated that Lu then pointed a firearm at both troopers with her finger on the trigger and shouted, 'I will shoot!' In response, Ducut fired a single round, breaking the driver's side window. Lu immediately dropped the gun and raised her hands in surrender.
Police Praise Troopers' Actions
During a press conference, Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Colonel Michael Edgell commended Ducut and the other troopers for their handling of the situation. 'We never fire a warning shot whatsoever, and I don't think any police department will,' Edgell said. 'We train our people that you only shoot to stop the threat. She had a gun in her hand and she pointed it at a trooper. She had a gun in her hand when he fired that shot.'
He added, 'In a perfect world, she would have gotten out of the car and we would have conducted business on the side of the road.'
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
Lu was not struck by the bullet but suffered cuts from flying glass. She exited the vehicle with her hands raised and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The two dogs found inside the SUV were turned over to animal control.
Prosecutors described the incident as an 'extremely dangerous situation', and a judge set bail at $250,000. If released, Lu has been ordered to wear a GPS monitor and is barred from possessing any weapons.
She faces multiple charges, including:
- Assault on a protected person
- Resisting with a firearm
- DUI
Authorities noted that Lu previously faced disorderly conduct and DUI charges in Montana in 2025. She is due back in court on February 25 for further proceedings.
