Intense bodycam video shows the moment a Las Vegas police officer was shot during the pursuit of a suspect, but she managed to neutralize the gunman from the ground.
Around 1:13 a.m. on Sept. 10, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officer Tierney Tomburo, 24, pulled over a Buick for a traffic infraction on University Center Drive. Tomburo asked the three people in the car to exit the vehicle and walk to the front of the police patrol SUV.
One of the men – later identified as 27-year-old Gabriel Charles – disregarded the officer’s orders and fled the traffic stop. Tomburo gave chase to the sprinting man.
Bodycam video revealed that Charles turned while he was running to shoot Tomburo. She fell to the ground in agony, but still managed to fire off four gunshots as seen in police bodycam footage. Charles was struck in the torso.
Another police officer rushed to assist Tomburo – who was shot in the pelvis. While the officer applied a tourniquet, Tomburo called the dispatch to request immediate medical assistance.
Charles was taken into custody and taken to the Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center – where he was pronounced dead.
Tomburo was rushed to the UMC Trauma Center.
Two days after the shooting, Tomburo was released from the hospital in a wheelchair and received a standing ovation from her fellow law enforcement officers.
Tomburo – who has been employed by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department since 2020 – was placed on administrative leave as the District Attorney’s Office and department investigate the police shooting.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Sheriff John McGrath said of Tomburo, “She is at home, but in a lot of pain. But we have every hope that she’ll be back to work as soon as possible.”
Had Charles survived, the LVMPD said he would have been charged with attempted murder, battery, resisting a public officer, and a prohibited person with a firearm.
The driver of the vehicle was arrested for suspicion of DUI. The third man was not charged.
KLAS-TV reported, “This was the eighth officer-involved shooting of 2022, McGrath said. At this time last year, there were five officer-involved shootings.”
(WARNING: Graphic video)