Prosecutors: Man accused in hit-and-run deaths of 2 troopers was escorted out of Las Vegas casino due to intoxication

01/12/2023

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A judge set bail at £500,000 on Friday for a man who is accused in a hit-and-run crash that killed two Nevada State Police troopers in Las Vegas.

The suspect, identified as Jemarcus Williams, 46, made his first court appearance on Friday morning after the crash which occurred early Thursday morning on a freeway in Las Vegas.

In court, prosecutors stated that an arrest report from Las Vegas indicated that the suspect had been drinking at the Palms and was escorted out by security due to his intoxication.

According to prosecutors, security at the Palms advised him that they would call police if he got into his vehicle. Security stayed and monitored him until the man walked away from the area, making them think he had left the premises, the state said.

When Williams determined security was no longer monitoring him, prosecutors say he then emerged from hiding behind a tree and got into his vehicle, driving away.

In a news conference Thursday afternoon, police said the two troopers had stopped to investigate a vehicle that appeared to have a driver asleep behind the wheel. When the officers stopped to do this, a second vehicle, a Chevy HHR, struck the two troopers before fleeing the scene.

LVMPD conducted a grid search and located the driver, identified as Williams, later Thursday morning.

Williams was taken into custody after a barricade situation at an apartment complex near Monroe Avenue and J Street, according to police.

Court records indicated Williams was facing the following charges

2 counts of reckless driving
2 counts of DUI of alcohol and/or controlled or prohibited substance, resulting in death
2 counts of duty to stop at scene of accident

On Thursday night, Nevada State Police identified the two fallen officers as Sgr.

Michael Abbate and Trooper Alberto Felix.