NV Trooper, Assistant Fire Chief Fatally Shot During Stop

A Nevada Highway Patrol sergeant who also was an assistant fire chief was gunned down and his uniform and patrol vehicle also were stolen after a roadside stop Friday.

Sgt. Ben Jenkins, 47, was shot and killed shortly before 6 a.m. after he stopped to help a driver along U.S. 93, just north of Ely, KOLO-TV reports. Jenkins had been an assistant fire chief with the Spring Creek Volunteer Fire Department, as well.

According to police, John Dabritz, 65, is the driver accused of opening fire on Jenkins during the stop. He then allegedly took Jenkins' uniform and stole his NHP vehicle.

Police arrested Dabritz several hours after the shooting near Cherry Creek, nearly 20 miles from the crime scene, according to KOLO. Details concerning a motive for the shooting were not released.

"Such a tragedy. We thank this hero for everything he’s done for our community," the Spring Creek Volunteer Fire Department stated on its Facebook page.

Jenkins, who was an Elko native, had been with the Nevada Highway Patrol since March 2008 and was promoted to sergeant in 2017. He earned the Gold Medal of Valor, the Nevada Department of Public Safety's highest honor, in 2011.

Jenkins previously had worked as a training officer with the Nevada State Fire Marshal Division and had been a crew supervisor for the Nevada Division of Forestry. He also had served in the the Army National Guard and Air National Guard.