UPDATE 1:30 P.M. AUG. 4: The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department held a press briefing on Friday about the shooting on Tuesday that involved two police officers.
During the press briefing, LVMPD showed dramatic body-camera footage from both police officers. The video showed the police officers speaking to the man, who has been identified as Miguel Salas, for several minutes before the shootout began.
The officers were responding to a call about a suspicious vehicle when the incident occurred. Salas refused the officers' commands and refused to exit the vehicle.
Salas then pulled out a concealed handgun and began firing at the officers.
The bullet hit Officer Nelson in the chest area. He was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time and the bullet entered between the panels of the vest. The other officer's gun belt stopped a bullet and he was not injured.
Officers were investigating a suspicious vehicle call. The driver, suspect Miguel Salas, refused to cooperate or to exit the vehicle. pic.twitter.com/3NbFUxguXH
— LVMPD (@LVMPD) August 4, 2017
Salas pulled out a handgun that was concealed and began firing at the officers. One officer was struck in the chest. #OIS pic.twitter.com/OeQdKistkm
— LVMPD (@LVMPD) August 4, 2017
SHOCKING VIDEO: Body cam off the Metro officer who was shot this week. Miguel Salas pulled a gun & started firing. Officer recovering @ktnv pic.twitter.com/g5cAWwMHkw
— David Schuman (@david_schuman) August 4, 2017
Police said during the press briefing that there has been a rise in violent crime in Las Vegas and that there are a lot of guns in the Las Vegas area.
Officer Nelson is currently recovering at home. Both officers were placed on paid administrative leave per department policy.
WATCH FULL PRESS BRIEFING BELOW:
UPDATE 10:45 A.M. AUG. 4: The Clark County coroner officially deemed the death of Miguel Salas as a homicide. They also noted that he died from a gunshot wound to the head. The coroner does not believe that Salas died as a result of a self-inflicted wound.
UPDATE AUG. 3: The Clark County Coroner identified the suspect who was reportedly shot after opening fire on police officers as 25-year-old Miguel Salas. No city of residence was listed.
The official cause of death is still pending.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department identified the officer involved as 33-year-old Richard Nelson, who has been with the department since April 2009. He has been placed on routine paid administrative leave.
UPDATE AUG. 2: A video taken during the shootout and uploaded to YouTube shows what happened on Aug. 1.
It appears to be a normal traffic stop on the video and the officers do not appear to be overly concerned.
On the video, you can see them standing very close to the shooter's window, possibly talking to him.
WATCH VIDEO HERE -- GRAPHIC CONTENT AND LANGUAGE
However, the situation quickly changes.
The Clark County coroner will identify the deceased after relatives have been notified. The names of the officers involved in the shooting will also be released to the public. The officers are on paid administrative leave according to department policy.
UPDATE 11:30 P.M. AUG. 1: Las Vegas police say a second officer was hit in the shootout near near Arville Street and Tropicana Avenue.
RELATED: List of shootings involving Las Vegas police in 2017
The officer didn't realize they were hit until hours later because the bullet struck the gun belt.
Police also reveled they were checking out the vehicle after a caller said they believe the man had their stolen cell phone a couple of days prior to the incident.
The officer hit in the chest was still at University Medical Center in stable condition as of the last update.
The suspect was reportedly hit by one of the officer's shots as well as one bullet from his own gun.
ORIGINAL STORY: A Las Vegas police officer has been shot Tuesday afternoon.
Police said the officer was taken to University Medical Center after the shooting around 4:15 p.m. in the 4100 block of West Tompkins Avenue, near Arville Street and Tropicana Avenue.
Officers were investigating a call of a suspicious vehicle in front of a business. As officers approached the vehicle, there was an exchange of gunfire. One officer was shot in the chest and is in stable condition.
Sheriff Joe Lombardo said the officer is in good spirits and is expected to make a full recovery.
Las Vegas police said the suspect is dead. Police are investigating whether the suspect was killed during the exchange of gunfire or of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
This is a developing story. Check back to 13 Action News for updates.
