Off-Strip Shooting Leads to Death of Las Vegas Police Officer

Posted on: October 14, 2022, 09:54h. 

Last updated on: October 14, 2022, 11:21h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officer was shot and killed Thursday morning near the Las Vegas Strip. A suspect was arrested later that day and is to appear in court on Friday.

Officer Truong Thai
Fallen LVMPD Officer Truong Thai, pictured above. He was killed in an exchange of gunfire with an armed suspect near the Las Vegas Strip. (Image: LVMPD)

While at a crime scene, Officer Truong Thai, 49, was wounded in the torso. He was rushed to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The shooting took place during a domestic disturbance near the 800 block on East Flamingo Road near University Center Drive. The suspect fired shots at Thai and another Metro officer, police said. Both officers fired back.

The crime scene is about a mile from the Strip. Nearby casinos include Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, and The Cosmopolitan.

Thai served with the LVMPD since 1999. Once word got out that Thai was at the hospital, dozens of police officers proceeded there to wait for an updated condition. With news of his passing, officers escorted Thai’s body as it was driven to the Clark County coroner’s office. A civilian also was wounded during Thursday’s exchange of gunfire. The victim’s condition was not immediately known.

An outpouring of praise was offered on Thursday for Thai.

He’s an honorable officer, a commendable officer,” Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said in a press statement. “He’d done a fantastic job as part of the law enforcement community through his tenure here.”

Later on Thursday, the alleged suspect, Tyson Hampton, 24, was apprehended near the intersection of Desert Inn Road and Eastern Avenue in Las Vegas. Officers used a police dog to apprehend Hampton. Hampton experienced minor injuries from his arrest, police said.

Multiple Charges

Charges against Hampton include open murder with the use of a deadly weapon, four counts of attempted murder with the use of a deadly weapon, discharging a gun at/into an occupied structure, discharging a gun within a prohibited area, battery with the use of a deadly weapon, and domestic battery.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department headquarters
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department headquarters, pictured above. The department is mourning fallen Officer Truong Thai. (Image: KTNV)

Hampton is being held at the Clark County Detention Center.

A vigil for Thai is scheduled for 6 pm Saturday at Sunset Park. The park is located near Harry Reid International Airport.

To donate to Metro’s Injured Police Officers Fund, click here. Money raised will be given to Thai’s family.

A Deadly Day for Police

Within 24 hours of Thai’s fatal shooting, three other US police officers were killed. Two police officers from Bristol, Conn. (the location of ESPN’s headquarters) were killed by gunfire on Wednesday night. They were responding to a call for possible domestic violence.

It turned out to be an ambush of the officers, police revealed. The fallen officers were identified as Alex Hamzy, 34, and Dustin DeMonte, 35. A third officer was injured but is expected to survive.

The suspect in that case was fatally shot at the crime scene.

Also on Thursday, an off-duty police officer and four other victims were killed, and two others injured, in Raleigh, N.C. Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres, 29, was heading to work when he was wounded, police said.

A 15-year-old suspect was apprehended by police, ABC News reported. He has critical injuries.

Some 54 US police officers were killed by gunfire (non-accidental) in the line of duty so far during 2022, according to the online Officer Down Memorial Page. Additional officers died in the line of duty from other causes so far this year.