Governor Joe Lombardo has ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on Friday, August 14, to honor the life and service of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officer Austin Abdelnabi.
Officer Abdelnabi was tragically killed in the line of duty on August 4 while responding to a suspect with a firearm.
“Officer Abdelnabi made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his country and his community, and Nevada will never forget his courage,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. “He dedicated his life to protecting others, and his loss is felt deeply by all of us. We will continue to honor his memory, stand with his family and loved ones, and support the brothers and sisters in law enforcement who served alongside him.”
The flag order applies to the Nevada State Capitol and all state public buildings and grounds from sunrise to sunset Friday in conjunction with Officer Abdelnabi’s funeral service.
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A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer was killed, and a suspect died after a shooting Tuesday near the Interstate 11 underpass on Mountain Vista Street, according to police.
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in an online post, LVMPD communications received a report at approximately 3:57 p.m. of a person waving a gun in the air and acting erratically at a business on East Tropicana Avenue.
Officers arrived and located the armed person near Mountain Vista Street and the Interstate 11 underpass. As officers approached, the suspect and at least one officer exchanged gunfire, and both were struck.
Medical assistance was requested and responded to the scene. The injured officer was transported to UMC hospital, where the officer died despite life-saving efforts.
The suspect was taken into custody, and medical personnel pronounced the suspect dead at the scene.
LVMPD released additional details about the shooting and the investigation.
LVMPD said this was the ninth shooting involving an officer in 2026. The department said the investigation remains ongoing.
The officer had been with LVMPD since November 2023. LVMPD has not officially released the officer’s identity, saying the name will be released after 48 hours under department policy.
The Nevada Police Foundation identified the officer as Austin Abdelnabi in a statement released after the shooting. The foundation said Abdelnabi was a Marine veteran and joined law enforcement agencies across Nevada and the country in mourning his death.
“This incident illustrates the dangerous work police officers throughout this nation face daily,” said Adam Garcia, Executive Director of the Foundation. Garcia continued that “Abdelnadi leaves a legacy of service and is a beacon of strength for all of us.”
Michelle Bays, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Nevada Police Foundation, which is also the custodian of the Nevada Police Officer Memorial, added that “Officer Abdelnadi paid the ultimate price to ensure that Las Vegans could live in a safe community. We will never forget his sacrifice. Our heavy hearts are with our law enforcement family at this difficult time.”
The Nevada Police Foundation also said it launched a fundraising effort in May to add two additional panels to the memorial because there is no additional space for fallen officers’ names. Construction is ongoing, with the additional panels expected to be completed this fall.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo also released a statement following the officer’s death on his X page.
My statement on the tragic loss of an LVMPD officer tonight: pic.twitter.com/BcWbk92jwx
— Governor Joe Lombardo (@JosephMLombardo) August 5, 2026
LVMPD asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the LVMPD Force Investigation Team at (702) 828-8452.
People who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at (702) 385-5555 or online at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.
2 News Nevada extends our condolences to Officer Abdelnabi’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.
(The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department contributed to this story.)
