LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The man accused of killing LVMPD Officer Truong Thai on Thursday faced gun-related charges in 2020, court documents say.
Officer Thai was shot in the torso by 24-year-old Tyson Shawn Jordan Hampton in the early morning hours after responding to a domestic disturbance near the 800 block of East Flamingo Road, police say.
On Friday, Hampton appeared in court again, where a judge ruled that Hampton will be held without bail.
Hampton is currently facing nine charges related to the death of Officer Thai. These charges include four counts of attempted murder, one count of open murder, two counts of discharging a weapon, one count of battery and one count of domestic battery.
According to court records, Hampton had also faced previous charges of assault and drawing a deadly weapon in a threatening manner in 2020. Hampton pleaded nolo contendere to the misdemeanor charge of drawing a deadly weapon in 2021, meaning he accepted the allegations but ultimately denied any guilt.
Records show that Hampton was sentenced to a 90-day suspended jail sentence and 50 hours of community service, while also being ordered to forfeit a Glock handgun and "stay out of trouble."
The court later closed Hampton’s case in October 2021 after he fulfilled all sentencing requirements, according to court documents.
District Attorney Steve Wolfson says prosecutors will have to look closely at the case before deciding on asking for the death penalty.
"It appears that this defendant was being investigated for misdemeanor domestic battery," said District Attorney Steve Wolfson. "In other words, if he hadn't engaged in the behavior that caused the tragic loss of the life of Officer Thai, he would have only been arrested for a misdemeanor."
Watch DA Steve Wolfson's full comments here:
Hampton is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 18. at 8:30 a.m.
