A POLICE officer has been shot in the head outside a Las Vegas casino as violent unrest continued to rage in the gambling mecca last night.
Another man, who was reportedly carrying a weapon, was shot by cops during the riots sparked by the death of African American George Floyd in Minneapolis last week.
The two shootings happened about two miles apart on the southern end of the city’s famous boulevard.
According to CBS affiliate 8NewsNow, the officer was shot in the head and died outside the Circus Circus Casino – however police have not confirmed his condition yet.
Cops have blocked off the Vegas Strip from The Strat – a resort at the southern end of Las Vegas Boulevard — to the iconic Caesar’s Palace.
Witnesses said the second shooting involved a male protester carrying a gun who opened fire on police, reports the Reno Gazette-Journal.
According to a local report, the man was seen being treated at the scene by medics although his condition is unknown.
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The ensuing riots has led President Donald Trump to threaten to deploy the military as he vows to restore “law and order” to the streets of the country.
In St Louis, Missouri last night, four cops were shot during clashes although none are believed to be in a critical condition, authorities said.
The city’s metropolitan police department tweeted: “All have been transported to an area hospital. All are conscious and breathing.
“Their injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.”
A police spokesman said that peaceful protests, which started around 3pm, were later interrupted by around 200 “crazy people” who began looting and throwing projectiles at cops.
Cops in the city clashed with rioters in the town of Ferguson – an area which saw similar unrest in 2014 following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black man, by police.
On May 25, George Floyd was arrested by the Minneapolis Police Department for allegedly using a forged cheque in a store.
After Mr Floyd was located near his car by cops they said he “physically resisted officers” while possibly under the influence of either drugs or alcohol.
Footage of the incident shows Mr Floyd groaning and saying repeatedly “I can’t breathe” to officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck.
Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the case, which sparked protests across the US.
