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Two Nevada State Police troopers have tragically lost their lives while assisting a motorist on the northbound Interstate 15 in Las Vegas on the early morning of November 30, leaving the law enforcement community devastated.
The two victims were confirmed by police as Sergeant Michael Abbate, who was recently promoted to sergeant after joining the agency in December 2013, and Trooper Alberto Felix, a U.S. Air Force veteran who joined the force in 2019.
According to sources, both were struck by a white Chevrolet HHR around 3:30 a.m. while attending to a driver on the interstate who appeared to be asleep behind the wheel.
The officers had stopped to check on the driver when the hit-and-run occurred. The driver of the Chevrolet fled the scene, leaving the two troopers critically injured.
One trooper was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other succumbed to injuries at the University Medical Center.
Las Vegas police Undersheriff Andrew Walsh, in a mid-day news conference, identified the suspect as 46-year-old Jemarcus Williams.
Williams evaded authorities for several hours after the incident until he was arrested. The vehicle involved in the crash was eventually found unoccupied at a nearby apartment complex where Williams was taken into custody.
Williams now faces charges including reckless driving, DUI and failing to stop at the scene of the crash. Due to the severity of the alleged crimes resulting in the deaths of two officers, the charges carry a sentencing enhancement that could lead to substantial punishment if Williams is convicted.
At a press briefing following the incident, police noted that Williams had a history of traffic violations.
According to city and court records, Southern Nevada police had cited Williams for about a dozen alleged traffic violations since 2007.
He was also charged with a DUI in Las Vegas that year, to which he pleaded no contest. Additionally, Williams was ticketed for driving without a license four times in the next three years.
His latest violation occurred this May for driving with expired plates.
Law enforcement officers, mourning the loss of their colleagues, conducted a procession, escorting the bodies of the fallen troopers to the coroner’s office shortly after the tragedy.
Governor Joe Lombardo ordered all U.S. flags in Nevada to be flown at half-staff until the troopers’ funerals.
“This is a devastating loss for Nevada law enforcement, the city of Las Vegas and our entire state. As we mourn these troopers, we will never forget their bravery, courage, and sacrifice,” Governor Lombardo stated.
The incident also led to the closure of a stretch of Interstate 15 and several on-ramps for hours, causing significant traffic disruptions.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, after visiting the crime scene, described the incident as a “terrible tragedy” and spoke about the gravity of losing troopers in the line of duty.
The heartbreaking event comes just over two years after another state trooper, Micah May, lost his life in a similar incident on Interstate 15.
May was struck by a carjacking suspect during a pursuit in July 2021.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is leading the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the hit-and-run incident.
Williams was scheduled to make his first court appearance on December 1.
As the community continues to grapple with the loss of two dedicated officers, expressions of support and condolences have poured in from local and state officials, law enforcement agencies and the wider public.
“Our prayers are with the families and loved ones of our fallen troopers,” the Nevada State Police stated.
Las Vegas’ mayor Carolynn Goodman also gave her condolences.
“What a senseless and tragic loss of two loyal Nevada State Troopers. Our prayers and deepest sympathies to all who knew them, admired them, and were grateful to them. Our condolences to their families and close friends in our entire community,” Goodman said.
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