Las Vegas police hold graduation parade for son of officer who died during One October

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — On Thursday, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department celebrated the milestone of high school graduation for Ayzayah Hartfield, the son of the late Charleston Hartfield, a police officer who was killed in the One October mass shooting on the Strip.

Ayzayah, who graduated from Coronado High School this year, was given a surprise parade of patrol vehicles and a load of congratulations and well-wishes from many on the force who knew his father.

Charleston Hartfield, also known as Charlie or Coach Chucky, was only 34 years old and off-duty the night of the 2017 Route 91 Music Festival. He died trying to save others at the festival caught in the gunfire.

RELATED| Law enforcement community remembers Officer Charleston Hartfield

He was also an accomplished Nevada Army National Guard sergeant first class and a youth football coach. Charleston Hartfield had released a book three months prior to his death entitled “Memoirs of a Public Servant,” chronicling interactions as an officer of the peace in Las Vegas.

LVMPD held the surprise parade for Ayzayah in memory of his father, on officer saying, “We’re doing this for him because he can be here to help his son.”

“Even after a loss, there is something great that can happen,” Ayzayah said. “For example, all these people being here to support for my graduation, it really is something magical.”

RELATED| Remembering Officer Hartfield

LVMPD put together a video that the department posted on Facebook capturing the parade. The video is captioned, in part, “We salute all of this year’s graduates and wish everyone a safe and enjoyable summer break.”