Lawyer fatally shoots ex-daughter-in-law and her husband amid deposition and later kills himself
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: According to Las Vegas police, on Monday, April 8th, in the morning, the gunman fatally shot a man and a woman inside a legal office near the Red Rock resort before taking his own life.
The victims of the shooting at the Summerlin law office have been identified as Dennis Prince and his wife Ashley Prince.
Las Vegas lawyer Joe Houston, identified as the shooter, is reported to have shot Dennis and Ashley before taking his own life.
The incident occurred during a custody deposition at Prince Law Group
FOX5 reported that Dennis Prince's family confirmed both his passing and the details of the shooting's events leading up to it.
The identities of the victims have not been released by the Clark County Coroner's Office.
Attorney Robert Eglet, who spoke with Fox News Digital, indicated that the shooting occurred during a child custody deposition at Prince Law Group, situated at the intersection of Charleston Boulevard and Pavilion Center Drive.
During the proceedings involving his former daughter-in-law, Ashley Prince, who was represented by her new husband, Dennis Prince, Houston purportedly represented his son, Dylan Houston.
According to Eglet, Dennis and Ashley are parents to a six-month-old child.
Monday's events likely revolved around a deposition in the ongoing custody dispute between the ex-couple. A statement regarding the shooting was issued by the Prince Law Group.
The statement read, "With profound sadness, Prince Law Group would like to thank everyone who has reached out to us with heartfelt messages of concern and sympathy over the tragic violence that occurred this morning in our offices. We ask that you please respect the privacy of the families involved."
3 people died in murder-suicide
After the shooting, which occurred shortly after 10:00 am on the fifth floor of the legal practice near Pavilion Center Drive and Charleston Boulevard, authorities provided updates during a press conference.
"We were here within minutes. The first responders did not hesitate, they moved in and took care of business," said Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
While McMahill acknowledged that authorities are still investigating the motivation behind the shooting, he mentioned that they do have a theory.
"We have a theory, but we can not release any more information at this point. All we know at this point is that a male and female are deceased," McMahill said.
Police reiterated that the gunman died by suicide rather than being killed by law enforcement. The shooting was initially characterized by police as a "dynamic event."
According to the news source, the area's schools were briefly placed under a soft lockdown, but it has since been lifted.
Police stated that there is "no ongoing threat" to the community, and while their investigation is still in its early stages, they will release more information as it becomes available.
According to the Prince Law Group website, Dennis was the lead trial attorney on all significant cases and a founding member of the firm.
According to the firm's website, Dennis is described as a married father of three children who actively participates in the community.
He has contributed donations and volunteered his time to Substance Free Nevada, a non-profit organization that assists families and individuals in need and provides educational programs and information to the general public.
