A Las Vegas police officer and Marine veteran was killed Tuesday while responding to a report of an armed individual, authorities said. The suspect also died during the confrontation.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said officers and police drones were dispatched shortly before 4 p.m. to a business in the 4500 block of East Tropicana Avenue after a caller reported someone waving a firearm who appeared to be intoxicated.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill said an officer was shot and rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
Officers found the armed suspect near Mountain Vista Street and the Interstate 11 underpass, police said. The suspect opened fire on officers, and at least one officer returned fire.
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a news briefing that the officer, 30, was wounded in the exchange and taken to University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
“A 30-year-old Las Vegas police officer was then worked on heroically by the Clark County Fire Department, other officers and EMS,” McMahill said. “He was transported to UMC where nurses worked to save his life.”
McMahill said the fallen officer was a Marine veteran who joined the department in November 2023. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
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“Unfortunately, our officer has passed,” the sheriff continued.
McMahill said the officer was a Marine veteran who had served with the police department since November 2023.
“A person who served this country and this community,” McMahill said. “As you can imagine, I have lots of grieving police officers and a grieving community.”
The police department offered its condolences to the officer’s family and pledged to support them “in every way we can in the days ahead.”
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
Other law enforcement agencies also mourned the officer’s death.
“The Nevada State Police extends our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the fallen officer, and to our partners at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department,” the agency said in a Facebook statement. “Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.”
