Officer who was shot Monday identified by Las Vegas police

Metro Police have identified the officer who was shot Monday during an incident in the southwest valley. 

Zaira Venegas-Hernandez, 36, was the officer who was wounded in the incident in the 4500 block of Pigeon Point Court on Monday. She has been with the department since 2021 and currently is stationed in Spring Valley in the Tourist Safety Division, Metro stated in a news release. 

Officers responded to the scene at about 12:29 a.m. after a woman reported that a man was attempting to burn her with a blow torch. Upon arrival, police learned the suspect was trying to set the home on fire. 

As officers entered the residence and approached a closed interior door, the suspect opened fire, striking Officer Venegas-Hernandez. She returned fire before police retreated outside. 

A female victim exited the house shortly after and was hospitalized for injuries sustained during the incident. SWAT officers and crisis negotiators responded to the barricade situation. 

Upon entering the home, SWAT officers discovered the suspect and the female juvenile dead at the scene from apparent gunshot wounds. 

Venegas-Hernandez has been placed on routine paid administration leave pending a review of the incident, the release stated.