Retired Connecticut State Trooper Killed In Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NV — A retired Connecticut State Police trooper now living in Massachusetts was killed Sunday morning after being punched by a man on the Las Vegas Strip, according to Nevada authorities.

Thomas Driscoll, 57, of Chicopee, Mass., was walking on a pedestrian bridge between the Cromwell Hotel & Casino and Bally's around 4:30 a.m. when he and a woman companion walked past a group of men. One of the men, later identified as Brandon Leath, made a comment about the two, then ran toward the pair and down a set of stairs as they rode an escalator down from the bridge, according to a police report.

Leath, 33, waited at the bottom of the escalator for Driscoll and the woman, then "set down his backpack and took a fighting stance." Driscoll walked toward Leath, who threw one punch which knocked Driscoll to the ground on his back. Driscoll did not move after the punch, according to the report.

Leath fled the area, but was taken into custody shortly thereafter and charged with murder. Driscoll was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said.

Driscoll served with the Connecticut State Police for 22 years, including stints with Troops H, B and W. He had been a member of the 97th training troop, which graduated from the police academy on March 2, 1988, according to retired Sgt. Jerry Longo, director of the Connecticut State Police Museum.

The Connecticut State Police issued the following statement:

Thomas Driscoll retired from the Connecticut State Police in 2009 after 22 years of service. Driscoll served most of his career on patrol at Troop H – Hartford and Troop B – North Canaan. He also was stationed at Bradley Airport. It saddens us to hear that he died after being assaulted. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

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