Suspect opens fire, killing 2, during child custody deposition at law office

LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) - Police say two people and the suspected gunman are dead after a man allegedly opened fire during a child custody deposition at a Nevada law office.

Police and firefighters responded to reports of an active shooter at the City National Bank building near downtown Summerlin around 10:04 a.m. Monday. Two victims and a suspect died during a shooting inside a law office in the building, police confirmed.

Lawyer Robert Eglet says the shooting broke out during a child custody deposition at Prince Law Group. Police say the suspect began shooting 3 to 4 minutes into the meeting, according to KVVU.

Joe Houston, a Las Vegas attorney, has allegedly been identified as the gunman. He is accused of shooting the victims, identified by Eglet as Dennis and Ashley Prince, before turning the gun on himself. A family member of Dennis Prince, who was a lawyer at Prince Law Group, confirmed his death and the details of what led up to the shooting.

The Clark County Coroner’s Office has yet to identify the deceased.

KVVU reports Joe Houston was representing his son, Dylan Houston, during the proceedings with his former daughter-in-law, Ashley Prince, who was represented by her new husband, Dennis Prince. The meeting involved the ongoing custody battle between Dylan Houston and Ashley Prince, who were divorced.

In an afternoon media briefing, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Lt. Jason Johansson said that the two victims were “very specific targets,” and he added that the suspect reportedly shooed other people away from the suite.

Dan Musgrove works down the hall from the law firm. He didn’t hear the gunshots, but he did hear screaming from people who were running away from them.

“Two of the people who had been in the deposition were screaming and upset. They said there was a shooter in their office, so we said, ‘Come into our office’ and locked the door,” he said. “I think they were in shock, and it was tragic to see what was going on. They knew shots had been fired. They believed someone was shot and potentially killed.”

Musgrove says he was also shocked in the moment.

“We were all just nervous as to what potentially could happen if the shooter came to our office on the same floor,” he said.

Johansson noted that “quite a bit of evidence collection needs to take place” at the Prince Law Group suite. In addition to investigating the crime scene, police are searching the suspect’s home.

Johansson could not confirm what security measures, if any, were present at the building, and he said investigators presume that the suspect brought his gun into the building with him.

Prince Law Group released the following statement Monday evening:

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.

Other areas of the building are expected to reopen Tuesday.