Deadly Shooting at Las Vegas Law Firm Tied to Custody Dispute

A shooting at a law firm near the Red Rock Casino Resort in Las Vegas on April 8, 2024 left three people dead, including prominent attorney Dennis Prince and his wife Ashley. The shooter, identified as Joe Houston, was representing his son in a contentious custody battle against Ashley Prince. Houston opened fire during a deposition at the Prince Law Group offices before turning the gun on himself.

Attorney Lisa Rasmussen, who was representing Ashley's sister Kelly Houston in the custody case, witnessed the shooting. "The deposition started normally, but then Joe Houston suddenly stood up and started shooting, killing Dennis and Ashley Prince," Rasmussen recounted. She was able to escape the conference room with Kelly Houston.

The custody dispute between Ashley Prince and her ex-husband Dylan Houston, Joe Houston's son, had been ongoing. Ashley's family claims Dylan had issues with alcohol and drug abuse and had sent threatening messages to Ashley. Joe Houston, who was reportedly suffering from terminal brain cancer, may have been triggered by "little hostilities" that played out that morning, according to Rasmussen.

Why this matters: The tragic shooting highlights the potential for domestic disputes, such as contentious custody battles, to escalate into deadly violence. It also raises questions about how the legal system handles cases involving threats and unstable family dynamics.

Rasmussen believes the custody case could have been resolved sooner if it had moved faster through the court system. "If the court system moved faster, if the custody case could have been addressed sooner, in a speedier manner, this might not have happened," she said. In the aftermath, Dylan Houston was granted visitation with his two children, who are now in the custody of Ashley's sister, on the condition he surrender all his guns to the police. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing as authorities work to determine the full circumstances and motive behind the murder-suicide.

Key Takeaways

• Shooting at Las Vegas law firm leaves 3 dead, including prominent attorney couple
• Shooter was client representing son in custody battle against victim's wife
• Witness attorney believes faster court process could have prevented the tragedy
• Shooter's son granted visitation with children, required to surrender all guns
• Investigation ongoing to determine full circumstances and motive behind murder-suicide