Nevada governor responds after man boos mention of slain police officer

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo admonished an audience member who booed a planned moment of silence for fallen Metro Police Officer Austin Abdelnabi during a gathering at Red Rock Resort on Wednesday, shortly before former President Donald Trump took the stage. Before Trump’s remarks, Lombardo addressed the crowd and announced a minute of silence to honor Abdelnabi, who was killed in the line of duty on Tuesday while responding to a report of a man brandishing a firearm in east Las Vegas. As Lombardo began to read Abdelnabi’s name, he stumbled over the surname, prompting a man in the audience to boo. Several nearby attendees shouted “no!” in reaction. Lombardo then stated, “No, no, we’re not booing him. He’s the officer that passed away present recently.” He subsequently asked the assembly to observe the minute of silence in Abdelnabi’s memory. Trump, who spoke after Lombardo and later joined him onstage, praised the fallen officer, describing him as “an unthinkable young man.” According to Metro Captain Adam Seely, the suspect “immediately opened fire upon officers” upon encountering police, and Abdelnabi was struck during the ensuing exchange of gunfire. Abdelnabi was transported to University Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. Abdelnabi’s LinkedIn profile indicates he served in the Marine Corps from August 2014 to August 2018. Sheriff Kevin McMahill confirmed that Abdelnabi had been with the Metropolitan Police Department since November 2023.