Las Vegas Police Officer Critical After Being Shot During Protests

LAS VEGAS -- A Las Vegas Metropolitan was critically wounded after he was shot late Monday night during protests over the death of George Floyd.

Officers were dealing with a large group of protesters near the Circus Circus hotel-casino when a "shot rang out" around 11 p.m. and the officer was hit, according to KTNV-TV.

The officer was transported to University Medical Center where he is in extremely critical condition and on life support.

The SWAT team and a K-9 unit responded to the scene and were able to apprehend the suspected gunman.

A second shooting took place in front of the Foley Federal Building near Bridger Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard as police officers were stationed at the building, protecting it against protesters. Officials say that a suspect armed with multiple guns and wearing body armor approached the building and engaged fire with the officers. They returned fire and the suspect was struck several times. He was transported to a local hospital were he was pronounced dead.

Protests in response to the death Floyd while in custody of Minneapolis police officers last week began in Las Vegas last Thursday. Since that time, there have been protests each night.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department says they arrested 155 people during Sunday night’s protest on the Las Vegas Strip and surrounding areas.