LAS VEGAS — A police officer who was shot in the head during a Las Vegas Strip protest of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis is paralyzed from the neck down, on a ventilator and unable to speak, his family said in a statement released by police.
Officer Shay Mikalonis, 29, was shot June 1 during protests over the death of Floyd. The violent act has apparently brought permanent suffering, a fact that often gets lost when the story fades away.
The family statement released on twitter by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Saturday said he is expected to stay on the ventilator. He has been tentatively accepted at a spine rehabilitation center.
Sharing with permission from Officer Mikalonis’s family. Since so many of our community is supporting Shay we wanted to provide an update as of June 12th, after the fundraiser held for him. He feels your prayers and positive thoughts. #PrayforShay pic.twitter.com/rpwaxMTCui
— LVMPD Dispatch (@lvmpd_dispatch) June 13, 2020
The family thanked doctors, nurses and staff at University Medical Center in Las Vegas for their care and the community for support and fundraising, Fox News reported.
“Again, our family can never express our gratitude for all the support for Shay,” the unsigned family statement said. “We are always Las Vegas Strong and so proud of our community,”
Edgar Samaniego, 20, has been charged with attempted murder, battery and firearms charges as a result of the shooting. He is being held in lieu of $1 million.
A judge who reviewed evidence at June 5 court hearing said that police video shows Samaniego “walking by, taking out a gun and firing … at officers.”
Scott Coffee, a public defender, said after the hearing that Samaniego will plead not guilty. Samaniego also is being held without bail on accusations that he violated the terms of release on separate misdemeanor DUI and illegal drug possession charges.
