August 6, 2026 - 4:32 pm

The Metropolitan Police Department on Thursday identified another officer who was involved in the police shooting that left officer Austin Abdelnabi and an armed suspect dead.

Officer Enrique Molinet was also involved in the Tuesday shooting, according to a Metro news release.

In a briefing Wednesday, Sheriff Kevin McMahill said that Abdelnabi, 30, died after he was “ambushed” by an armed suspect in east Las Vegas and that a gunbattle ensued. Abdelnabi had responded to a call about a man with a gun at 3:57 p.m. Tuesday near the 4500 block of East Tropicana Avenue.

The suspect was also killed, McMahill said. The suspect’s name had not been released as of Thursday.

Metro Capt. Adam Seely said in a Tuesday briefing that police had also received multiple reports of a person walking near the intersection of Mountain Vista Street and Tropicana while erratically waving a firearm. Seely said officers found the suspect in the 5400 block of Mountain Vista, near Interstate 11, which is south of where the initial call came in.

The suspect “immediately opened fire upon officers” after they contacted the suspect, Seely said, and at least one officer returned fire toward the suspect.

Molinet, who has worked at Metro since 2022, has been placed on routine paid administrative leave pending a review of the confrontation, the news release stated.

Several officials have honored Abdelnabi in the days since the shooting. During a rally in Las Vegas on Wednesday, President Donald Trump began his remarks by sending “love and heartfelt prayers” to Abdelnabi’s family and loved ones.

Trump said that Abdelnabi had been gunned down by a “savage criminal” and that he had died a hero. At that same event, Gov. Joe Lombardo asked the crowd to participate in a moment of silence for Abdelnabi.

Contact Sophie Baker at sbaker@reviewjournal.com.