Veteran Las Vegas police officer was fatally shot Thursday while responding to a domestic disturbance near University Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV).
Officer Truong Thai, 49, died at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center from a gunshot wound to the torso. He had been with the Metropolitan Police Department since 1999.
“I was at the hospital early this morning with his ex-wife and his daughter,” Sheriff Joe Lombardo said Thursday, choking up. “Our condolences go out to his family. We will be helping them in any way we can in the following days. The incident demonstrates the dangers our officers face every day just putting on the uniform and doing their job.”
Police were initially called around 1 a.m. to South University Center Drive and East Flamingo Road after a report of a domestic disturbance, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Police Department.
When Thai and another officer arrived in the area, 24-year-old Tyson Hampton opened fire, striking Thai and a civilian before driving off, police said.
Hampton drove off after the shooting and was arrested with the help of a Metro K-9 unit near South Eastern Avenue and East Desert Inn Road. He suffered minor injuries, police said.
The civilian who was shot was hospitalized with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
