A police officer is on life support and a protestor was killed after two separate shootings that happened amid George Floyd protests in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Monday night.
The officer was in grave condition on Tuesday morning, said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Sheriff Joseph Lombardo.
LVMPD officers were attempting to disperse a large crowd that was throwing rocks and bottles at officers in front of the Circus Circus hotel and casino in downtown Las Vegas. When they began making arrests, someone shot the officer, Lombardo said.
The officer, who was not named, was shot in the back of the head, LVMPD sources told KLAS-TV. The officer was taken to the University Medical Center in critical condition, where he remains on life support. The suspect was arrested around 2 a.m. on Tuesday.
A separate shooting Monday night outside the federal courthouse building on Las Vegas Boulevard left one man dead. The LVMPD and federal officers were stationed on the stairs of the building to protect it from rioters.
Around 11:22 p.m., the man, “who was armed with multiple firearms and appear to be wearing body armor,” reached for his firearm and officers shot him, Lombardo said.
He was then taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“It is a sad night for LVMPD family in a tragic night for our community. With these protests which are leading to riots, one tragedy is only leading to another,” Lombardo said.
Both incidents are being investigated by the LVMPD and officers will inform the public about these two cases once more information becomes available.
“What has occurred is utterly unacceptable, I hope the community sees it that way, too,” Lombardo said.
Anyone with information regarding both incidents are encouraged to contact police.
