Man Shoots Up Las Vegas Casino, Wounding 4 Before Police and Gamblers Tackle Him

[romma]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288348,00.html


LAS VEGAS — A man on a walkway over the New York-New York casino floor opened fire on the gamblers below early Friday, wounding four people before he was tackled by officers and patrons, police said.

Two women and two men were being treated at a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries, said Officer Ramon Denby, spokesman for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

The gunman is believed to be in his early 50s and a Las Vegas resident. He was not a hotel employee or guest, Denby said.

The man entered the casino from the walkway connecting the New York-New York to the MGM Grand a little before 1 a.m., and randomly fired several times at people on the casino floor below, said Denby. "Investigators are still collecting bullets," he said.

Denby said the casino remained opened, and investigators were interviewing witnesses.

"This is a very rare incident," said Denby. "It seems like some local guy who snapped and went to the hotel to do it."

The 2,000-room casino, which opened in 1997, features a facade replicating the New York City skyline, with a 47-story knockoff of the Empire State Building, a 150-foot Statue of Liberty and a Coney Island-style roller coaster. It is owned by MGM Mirage.

(Story continues below)

Advertise Here
Advertisements

Casino spokeswoman Yvette Monet said its operations had been fully restored Friday morning.

"Guests are being informed that it's business as usual," Monet said

 

[RubenZ]

Hmm. I'm going there for my Honeymoon this November. I should be getting my CCL before then and now I'm wondering if I should take a gun with me.

 

[Rex B]

If you can

If you can carry, then you should.
But I don't think NV law allows carry in casinos.

 

[JimmyG]

I'm wondering if one can carry in a Mississippi casino. The Mississippi page at packing dot org doesn't specify. I do a day trip once a month or so and have never seen any signage (re: firearms) on or near doors, hotel desk, or anywhere else, nor any mention in literature or ads. Mississippi accepts my Florida license to carry concealed, so I've carried on those trips, but either left weapon in car or in hotel room safe. Been scairt to ask a pit boss since I don't know any on a personal level and don't want to become persona non grata if the answer is "guns baaaaad." Anyone? Bueller?

 

[redneckrepairs]

Well it looks like the NYNY casino finaly got the last part of the New Yourk experiance incorperated . Not to belittle the shooting but just too good a one liner to pass up .

NV carry laws are somewhat strange and variable so check on them before you pack a piece out there , i suggest you visit http://handgunlaw.us/ since packing.org has been spotty enough i dont bother to visit anymore .

 

[pharmer]

Pray that the perp did not have a NV CCW lic. The media will eat our lunch. Joe

 

[kellyj00]

if you're off to vegas, you'll be fine without a gun. I spent almost a week there last month and there was no crime whatsoever to speak of.

Seems like everyone on 'the strip' in that city is so out for themselves that they couldn't care less about you.

 

[redneckrepairs]

if you're off to vegas, you'll be fine without a gun. I spent almost a week there last month and there was no crime whatsoever to speak of.

Its there if you look at what is around you , especialy on the north end of the strip and downtown. Most folks look at all the pretty lights , and Metro are almost magicians at making problems disappear without notice , as are casino security .

 

[Wedge]

But I don't think NV law allows carry in casinos.

If only this wacko had read the signs...maybe they need to make the signs bigger and in more languages.

 

[Henry Bowman]

Denby said the casino remained opened, and investigators were interviewing witnesses.

The game must go on!

 

[romma]

I think you can carry legally in many of the casinos there...

Seems like everyone on 'the strip' in that city is so out for themselves that they couldn't care less about you.

Except for the guy that shot 4 people..

 

[Leatherneck]

Breaking news: it was three off-duty cops and two members of the military that subdued the shooter.

TC

 

[longeyes]

Breaking news: it was three off-duty cops and two members of the military that subdued the shooter.

The other bystanders were too busy betting on how many shots he'd get off.

 

[Warren]

I bet he wouldn't have gone off if he had been carrying his blue card.

NYNY is a well themed casino. I like the deco look and the kids like the arcade there so we've made multiple trips there.

 

[thexrayboy]

If you can carry, then you should.
But I don't think NV law allows carry in casinos.

Nevada law is very specific. You may not carry in a school, public or private without written permission from a person at said school with authority to give you permission. You may not carry in a courtroom, police station or any other publicly owned building that has both signage prohibiting weapons and a metal detector or other screening means. Other than that there is no restrictions to where you can carry. A very few private business have posted signs prohbiting carrying of weapons, my local credit union is one of them. These signs have no legal weight. I know of no casino anywhere in the state that prohibits CCW holders from legally carrying, one may exist but I have not heard of any. I have carried in virtually every major casino in Reno, Tahoe and Vegas with no problems.


ETA: Vegas does have a significant crime problem and it is growing. North Las Vegas, Fremont Street and other off strip areas can be extremely dangerous, especially at night. On the strip and in the immediate vicinity of the larger casinos is usually quite safe, well lit and heavily patrolled. Get just a few blocks away and Vegas is no different from any other large city. Lots of areas that are safe to be and lots of areas that are not safe to visit.

 

[Valkman]

Legal NV CCW holders can carry in any casino or bar, but for some reason people always think we can't. As for bringing a gun in, NV doesn't recognize any other permits yet. That may be changing.

if you're off to vegas, you'll be fine without a gun. I spent almost a week there last month and there was no crime whatsoever to speak of.

That's because tourism is everything and the police have a heavy presence. Don't stray far from the Strip though as it gets nasty real fast. I go nowhere in Vegas without a gun.

 

[Quiet]

The new changes in NV CCW go into effect 10-01-2007.

NV is still determining which states to have reciprocity with.

 

[Dravur]

I worked

in the casino industry for 13 years. Oddly enough, not sure of the regs of carrying in a casino. but, I can tell you this. If they catch you carrying, you will at least get excorted off property and at worst get to sit in the Security office while the po-pos are summoned. They will also permanently ban you.

I've seen it happen. There are robberies of casinos that happen occasionally. Some will do a jump and rob where they jump into the cage, grab all the cash they can get and run out. Patron's will sometimes get robbed if they get paid in cash and then head on out the door.

The most common form of theft is to have someone distract you and then the partner grabs your chips or some other form of that.

Now, here are the good things.

Surveillance is very very good. These PTZ cameras are VERY good, not like the local Stop and Rob's $10 camera. They can read the serial number of a bill laying on a gaming table. Surveillance crews are usually very well trained and are looking for the things that happen.

Security is USUALLY trained well, but if an armed intruder wanders in, they are trained to be good witnesses as most are unarmed.

If you are robbed, the casino will probably comp you a room and a meal

Normally, you will never hear about crimes in a casino. They like to keep them quiet....