Two Nevada State Police Troopers tragically lost their lives in a hit-and-run incident while performing a welfare check on a motorist on a Las Vegas freeway. The fatal event unfolded in the early hours of Thursday, November 30, 2023, around 3:30 a.m.
Sergeant Michael Abbate and Trooper Alberto Felix, members of the Nevada State Police, had stopped to approach a vehicle on the northbound side of the freeway. The driver appeared to be sleeping in the car. During this routine check, a white Chevrolet HHR struck both officers and then fled the scene.
In the aftermath, radio communications captured the intense search efforts by fellow officers. These communications were marked by a sense of urgency and confusion as they endeavored to locate Abbate and Felix.
One officer was declared deceased at the incident site. The other succumbed to injuries at a nearby hospital.
The suspect in the incident, 46-year-old Jemarcus Williams, was later arrested at an apartment complex located at Monroe Avenue and J Street. Williams is now detained at the Clark County Detention Center. He faces multiple charges, including reckless driving and DUI resulting in death, as well as failure to stop at an accident involving death.
At a hearing on Friday, December 1, prosecutors said that Williams had been drinking heavily in a casino and had to be escorted out by security. He was told not to drive, but he walked away making security think he would comply. When they left, he got into his vehicle and drove away. Bail has been set at $500,000 for Williams.
Sergeant Abbate had been serving with the department since December 2013 and had recently been promoted. Trooper Felix, a veteran of the United States Air Force, joined the Nevada State Police in 2019. Their commitment to public service was acknowledged by Governor Joe Lombardo, who expressed profound sadness over their passing.
In a gesture of mourning and respect, Governor Lombardo ordered all U.S. flags in Nevada to be flown at half-staff until the funerals of the two troopers.
