Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) – A Las Vegas Metro Police officer was shot and killed following early Thursday after trying to stop a suspect on the east side.
Las Vegas Metro Police Sheriff Joe Lombardo said that it all began around 1am after police got a call about a domestic disturbance in the 800 block of east Flamingo. Police discovered the suspect’s vehicle near Flamingo and University Center and when they tried to pull the suspect over, gunfire was exchanged.
“The suspect was armed with a firearm and fired at our officers,” Lombardo said. “Both responding officers discharged their duty weapons. One officer was struck.”
Lombardo said Officer Truong Thai was hit in the torso and was rushed to Sunrise Hospital, but passed away from his wounds.
A woman who was nearby was wounded and was taken to a hospital, where she was expected to survive, police said.
The suspect, Tyson Hampton, 24, of Las Vegas, drove away from the shooting scene and initially refused to surrender when he was stopped several blocks away, Lombardo said. A police dog was used during Hampton’s arrest, and Lombardo said Hampton received minor injuries.
Hampton was due to be booked into the Clark County jail pending an initial court appearance on charges including murder and attempted murder. Records did not immediately reflect if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Court records showed that Hampton had a criminal history in Las Vegas, where he pleaded no contest in April 2021 to a reduced charge of displaying a weapon in a threatening manner. A felony charge of assault with a weapon was dismissed. Hampton was represented by the Clark County public defender’s office at that time.
“The incident demonstrates the dangers our officers face every day just putting on the uniform and doing their job,” said Lombardo, who did not immediately identify the other officer involved in the shooting.
Thai, 49, had been with Metro since 1999, and was assigned to the south-central area command.
Sheriff Lombardo said that more information about the incident will be released within the next 72 hours.