Three people are dead following a shooting Monday morning in a law office near the Red Rock resort in Summerlin, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill. Sources have identified the victims as Las Vegas attorney Dennis Prince and his wife, Ashley Prince, while the shooter has been identified as Las Vegas attorney Joe Houston II.
The shooting occurred during a child custody deposition in the Prince Law Group's fifth-floor office, involving Ashley Prince, her ex-husband Dylan Houston, and his father, Joe Houston II, who was representing him. Prince and his wife recently had a child together, and records show that Dylan Houston filed for divorce from then-named Ashley Houston in 2021.
Police received a call of a shooting shortly after 10 a.m. inside a business in the 10800 block of Charleston Boulevard near Pavilion Center Drive. LVMPD Lt. Jason Johansson said that seven people were in the room during the deposition and that Joe Houston targeted his two victims before taking his own life.
"The suspect was not killed by police. We believe he took his own life," Sheriff McMahill said Monday afternoon.
Police searched Joe Houston's home on Monday evening near Buffalo Drive and Desert Inn Road and also searched the suspected shooter's car, which was parked in a garage on the property. Metro officers went through the building, clearing it and searching for any further threat.
"As you can imagine we have a five or six-story building. We have people that are hunkered down following active shooter protocols. We're going door by door and making sure everybody in there is OK and evacuating them," McMahill said.
In a statement, Prince Law Group expressed their profound sadness and thanked everyone who had reached out with messages of concern and sympathy. They asked for privacy for the families involved.
Prince's former law partner, Robert Eglet, described Prince as a wonderful father to four children and said his death was "not just a loss to his family, but also to the community." Prince's friend Tom Letizia, a political consultant, said he was deeply saddened by the news and that Prince was a respected figure within the legal community whose absence has left them all in mourning.
The State Bar of Nevada released a statement expressing their shock at the tragic events and offering therapy sessions and trauma response counseling to those in need.
Shooting witnesses and other building employees were taken to Red Rock Casino Resort, where they were provided with assistance and victim services. Charleston Boulevard was closed in both directions from Red Rock Drive past Pavilion Center Drive but reopened to traffic around 12:30 p.m.
Lt. Johansson noted that "quite a bit of evidence collection needs to take place" at the Prince Law Group suite, while other areas of the building are expected to re-open soon.
The shooting has sent shockwaves through the Las Vegas legal community, with many expressing their condolences and disbelief at the tragic events. As the investigation continues, the focus will be on understanding the circumstances that led to this deadly incident and providing support to those affected by the loss of Dennis and Ashley Prince.
The child custody deposition, which was supposed to be a routine legal proceeding, turned into a devastating tragedy when Joe Houston allegedly opened fire just 3-4 minutes into the meeting. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential for violence even in seemingly safe environments and the importance of addressing the underlying issues that can lead to such senseless acts.
