Nevada Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson dies at 52

Nevada Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson has died. He was 52.

A news release from Assembly Democrats says Thompson died early Saturday while receiving “emergency care” in Carson City. The news release did not provide other details surrounding his death.

Thompson had served as chair of the Assembly education committee and his tenure in the Assembly began in 2013.

Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson says Thompson’s “warm smile and larger-than-life presence will truly be missed in our Assembly chamber.”

Frierson describes Thompson’s death as sudden and says he was “well respected” among other Nevada lawmakers.

Several lawmakers took to social media to express grief over his death. Democratic Assemblyman Steve Yeager wrote on Twitter that “we are absolutely heartbroken.”

U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford praised Thompson on Monday.

The congressman told the Nevada Legislature that “one of God’s angels, our colleague and dear friend Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson, has been called home.”

Horsford says Thompson was always concerned about the well-being of those around him and led the way to make his community stronger through improving education funding and addressing racial inclusion. He told the Legislature that Thompson would expect “all of us to carry on his work and to make life better for others.”