Austin Abdelnabi, 30, died Tuesday after being shot while responding to a call about a man who appeared intoxicated and was seen waving a gun in the 4500 block of East Tropicana Avenue, according to police. The officer’s death has been mourned by officials including President Donald Trump, who said at a Las Vegas event this week he was sending “love and heartfelt prayers” to the officer’s family and loved ones.
During a briefing Friday at Metro headquarters, Undersheriff Andrew Walsh said Abdelnabi found a suspect, identified as 21-year-old Angel Tywin Lucas Lindsey, in the 5400 block of Mountain Vista Street, near Intesrtate 11, south of where the call originated.
Walsh said Abdelnabi was the first officer to arrive at the scene. He said the officer turned on the emergency lights of his patrol vehicle as he got out, and that Lucas Lindsey “immediately charged at” Abdelnabi.
Walsh said Lucas Lindsey was carrying a 9 mm handgun with an extended magazine and shot Abdelnabi eight times. He added Abdelnabi did not fire his weapon.
“One hit his ballistic vest and then went into his neck,” Walsh said of where Abdelnabi was shot. “One in the arm that went into his chest; twice in the ballistic vest; once in the handcuff case, once in his pepper spray, once in the baseplate of his firearm and once in his body-worn camera.”
Walsh said the footage on Abdelnabi’s body camera was currently unable to be retrieved but added Metro was working with the camera’s manufacturer, Axon, to recover footage.
Responding officers applied a chest seal and a tourniquet before rushing Abdelnabi to University Medical Center in the back of a patrol vehicle. Walsh said. Abdelnabi died at the hospital.
Metro announced on Thursday that another officer involved in the shooting, Enrique Molinet, was placed on routine paid administrative leave pending a review of the shooting, which remained under investigation. Molinet has been with Metro since 2022.
Walsh said Molinet fired six times from a 9 mm handgun. Lucas Lindsey was shot in the chest by police and shot himself in the head, Walsh said. Lucas Lindsey died at the scene.
Abdelnabi’s mother, Amy Harvey, earlier this week said her son was a graduate of Clemson University and a Marine veteran. Others who knew Abdelnabi described him as someone who went above and beyond and was passionate about serving those in need.
Abdelnabi served from 2014 to 2018 and achieved a rank of Lance Corporal, according to Marine Corps public affairs officer Yvonne Carlock. Abdelnabi, a former machine gunner, was deployed during Operation New Dawn in 2016 in the 13th Marine Expeditionary unit and earned several awards, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and others.
A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at Central Church in Henderson, near East Russell Road and Boulder Highway.
Contact Casey Harrison at charrison@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Casey_Harrison1 on X.
