Gangs, Out-of-Town Visitors Contribute to Las Vegas Strip Violence: Police
Posted on: October 7, 2020, 01:24h.
Last updated on: October 7, 2020, 02:39h.
Police are blaming much of the recent local increase in violence on the Las Vegas Strip and other areas on out-of-town visitors and gang members. In response, city and county law authorities have beefed up police presence on the Strip and other tourist areas.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Capt. Dori Koren said this week “a good portion” of the violence is coming from people who don’t live in Nevada. He also said authorities are noting an increase in gang members who are not from the Silver State, according to news accounts.
At a Clark County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Koren spoke about recent violence in Las Vegas.
We are noticing an increase in gang members from other states. We’re noticing an increase in robberies, stabbings, shootings that are happening from individuals from out of state,” Koren said, according to KSNV-TV.
Several recent shootings and fights on or near the Strip have led to a beefed-up police presence in what police are calling Operation Persistent Pressure. The combined city-county police department, known locally as Metro, also has put into place a program called Operation Top Gun. The firearms initiative has resulted in police confiscating 63 illegal guns in August on the Strip and nearby areas, according to news accounts.
Commissioner Lawrence Weekly said religious and youth leaders he has spoken with are concerned about out-of-town people “coming into the community, wreaking a lot of havoc, and then hopping back on a plane.”
“After the smoke clears, we’re left with the carnage,” he said.
Additional Security
At least one hotel-casino company is stepping up security at its Las Vegas properties. Wynn Resorts is adding a K-9 team and other security measures at Wynn Las Vegas and the Encore hotel-casinos on the Strip. Beginning this week, guards will scan visitors for metal objects and search handheld bags.
A large fight in early September at the Encore resulted in an estimated $15,000 in damage. A company spokesman said Wynn Resorts would raise room rates and add additional security measures. The company filed a lawsuit against 20 unknown people in the melee at the Encore.
Most of Nevada’s largest casinos are on the Las Vegas Strip, which is outside Las Vegas city limits. The Strip includes about 20 resorts in a three-mile stretch from the Sahara hotel-casino at the northern end to Mandalay Bay at the southern end. Mandalay Bay is near McCarran International Airport.
Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) ordered casinos statewide to close in March as COVID-19 rates spiked. He allowed them to reopen June 4.
Recent Violence
At the County Commission meeting, Koren said most of the shooting suspects involved in recent gun incidents on the Strip have been caught or identified, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
One recent arrest occurred following a late-night shooting on Sept. 27 on the sidewalk between the LINQ and Flamingo hotel-casinos.
The incident began when five to 10 men started fighting, authorities said. One man pulled out a handgun and fired a shot that struck the victim in the torso. The victim was hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
After the shooting, the Flamingo was locked down for about three hours as police searched for a suspect. Several hours later, authorities arrested two 19-year-old men in California, about 95 miles southwest of Las Vegas.
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Last Comments ( 25 )
Ask the millions of murdered Native Americans about white violence. You cornered the market centuries ago and still romanticize the good ol' violent days of mob-run Vegas. Please, Karen.
Barbara, how dark was that "demographic" that shot from the Mandalay Bay window?
Anyone want to know the demographics? Anyone want to guess? It’s dark.
I was born and raised here in Las Vegas, my mother also. There have been many changes over my 57 years! Now, let's all just thank Mayor Goodman for bringing the Raiders here along with the thug lives. Mic drop
This story is a total exaggeration. Those of us who live and gamble in Las Vegas know that crime and gang violence on the Strip is almost non-existent. Very very few incidents happen there when you consider the millions who visit. Away from the Strip is also a lot safer than many cities.
I think it's wrong to blame the low rates for all the trouble that has been happening here in Vegas. I believe that people in general having been locked in for such a long period of time, and some are still locked in, has a lot to do with it. Seems to me most of the trouble causing persons come from California, but there have been a few from other closed states. They come here to enjoy a little freedom and let off steam. They hear this is an open town and having been pent up for so long think that they can do anything and everything and get away with it. They still believe that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. We aren't as free as we would like but they are basically under lockdown and have been since March and are fed up with it. We are their escape. Wait until the Raider Nation gets here with their tough mentality and liquored up. Hope they behave and prove me wrong.
I live behind the strip and there was a shooting at a convenience store on the corner. When the weekends approach thing get scary. These people show up with hostility and coming to the store is no longer a safe venture. My grandmother would always make the comment that all money ain't good money. In the quest for profits innocent people are put in harm's way.
Is it just me or did it pick up more when raiders started coming?
Lowlife trash determined to bring the ghetto with them wherever they go. And then they can't understand why they are despised.
DEAR LVMPD, Forgive this comment, as I'm concerned for you with this out of town trash running the streets, BUT I URGE YOU, PLEASE consider putting "Archangel Snipers" (like we used in Iraq - movie: "American Sniper") and place them on your hotel rooftops DRESSED in FULL TACTICAL BLACK (invisible) with SILENCED .338 Lapua's to (1) provide backup for your street officers but also (2) "silenced" so as NOT to disturb your other tourists. The .338 Lapua has a range of 1850 yards and "silenced" can support your street officers with "roof top-air cover." Just mind your background and have a quick clean-up crew to photo, investigate, hose down then back to business. It will be a "game changer" for you to send the right message of you're "NOT FUCKING AROUND anymore."
The gangs out here were created by gang members from California and theres always violence on and off the strip its just getting attention now because thats the only news there is to report out here. Violence is the norm in vegas and if anyone wants to disagree and say your a vegas native isnt really from vegas. Metro needs to put more eyes on their residential areas we are the ones suffering more then anything.
At the very moment my wife and I thought of visiting our favorite strip casinos from out of state we saw these negative and disturbing stories. Think we should jus5 stay home and wait until the casino’s can get things back under control.
I watch the news here in Las Vegas everyday. Violence and murder happens all the time here. Looking for outside excuses will not solve the problem. It's better to attack the problem now before realizing it later when it's too late
Let me guess all black gang bangers. Vegas is the new compton. But you can't say that.b.s
I live in Nevada and experienced violence. And its true. Due to the low rates interferes and casinos, people who typically wouldn't be able to afford to visit arrived large amounts. That would not have been a problem, however try but their neighbor mentality with them. I witnessed wide spread disrespectful behavior which included fights, unnecessary loud profanity, disrespectful of employees and others destruction of property, riding scooters on side walks and attacks on innocent people. I was glad to see them go and hope the Casinos never lower the rates that low again. It's ok to travel outside of your area, but don't bring your mentality and lack of respect with you. Respect where you are visiting. However, that was the majority, we still had to do with the residents here who have the same mentality. Who showed the worse of Las Vegas and who called themselves being tough. It was totally disgusting.