Las Vegas Lawyer and Wife Killed in Custody Battle Shooting

A tragic shooting at a Las Vegas law firm on April 8, 2024, left three people dead, including attorney Dennis Prince, 57, and his wife Ashley Prince, 30. The shooter, Joseph Houston, 77, was the father of Ashley's ex-husband Dylan Houston and opened fire during a deposition in a contentious custody battle before turning the gun on himself.

The incident occurred at the Prince Law Group in the Summerlin neighborhood, where Dennis Prince had been a trial lawyer for 30 years. Seven people were in the room at the time of the shooting, with four others, including a court reporter, able to escape and call the police.

Attorney Lisa Rasmussen, who was representing Kelly Houston in the deposition, described the shooting as the culmination of a tense custody battle between Ashley and Dylan, with a lot of "venom going back and forth." Ashley had been trying for years to gain sole custody of her two children, ages 4 and 5, from her previous marriage to Dylan. Joseph Houston had been representing his son in the custody case.

Rasmussen stated that the deposition started normally, but tensions escalated when Joseph Houston asked if they could resolve any issues for the sake of the case. When Dennis Prince did not respond, Joseph Houston opened fire, killing both Dennis and Ashley Prince before taking his own life. Rasmussen and Kelly Houston managed to escape and call 911, but heard up to five more shots.

Why this matters: This tragic incident highlights the potential dangers and emotional toll of high-conflict custody battles, emphasizing the need for increased safety measures and support for those involved in such cases. It also raises questions about the role of family members in legal proceedings and the importance of maintaining a safe environment during depositions and other legal meetings.

Ashley's parents have vowed to continue their daughter's fight to win custody of her children. Dennis Prince was a well-known trial lawyer in Las Vegas, and the shooting has left the legal community devastated. Rasmussen believes the prolonged nature of the case, which took two years to resolve, may have contributed to the tragedy. She described Joseph Houston as appearing jovial and healthy that morning, despite a cancer diagnosis, leading her to believe the shooting was a "moment of rage" rather than a planned attack.

Key Takeaways

• Shooting at Las Vegas law firm leaves 3 dead, including lawyer couple
• Shooter was father of lawyer's ex-husband in contentious custody battle
• Deposition turned violent, with shooter killing couple before taking own life
• Incident highlights dangers of high-conflict custody battles, need for safety
• Lawyer community devastated, parents vow to continue daughter's custody fight