LAS VEGAS, Aug. 27 (UPI) — A Nevada state trooper is alive after his badge may have stopped a bullet during a shootout with a suspect, the department said.
The Nevada Highway Patrol Southern Command tweeted a picture of the officer’s badge saying, “This trooper was struck in the badge by gunfire last night. We are grateful the trooper went home safe to his family.”
This Trooper was struck in the badge by gunfire last night. We are grateful the Trooper went home safe to his family
The shooting occurred during a routine traffic stop on Boulder Highway in Las Vegas around midnight Friday.
One of the car’s occupants attempted to flee the scene and exchanged shots with the trooper.
“The trooper engaged in a foot pursuit with the suspect,” said NHP spokeswoman Chelsea Stuenkel. “The suspect engaged the trooper with gunfire, the trooper returned gunfire. The trooper is OK … he is uninjured. The suspect was declared deceased on the scene.”
Stuenkel also said the department is investigating what specifically stopped the bullet that struck the trooper.
“A round did strike his badge,” she said. “I can’t say if that’s what stopped it, but I do know there’s damage to his badge.”
