Paris Las Vegas Suspect Nabbed After Restroom Explosions, Fire

Posted on: August 10, 2023, 06:01h. 

Last updated on: August 10, 2023, 12:06h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

A homeless man is facing charges after authorities investigated a restroom fire at the Paris Las Vegas on Monday.

The Paris Las Vegas
The Paris Las Vegas, pictured above. A man was arrested after a fire at the property. (Image: The Diary of a Jewelry Lover)

The suspect, Kenny Terry, was arrested on charges of arson and making false statements to police charges. Terry was released from jail after he appeared in local court on Tuesday.

A judge prohibited him from returning to the Paris Las Vegas, warning him he could be placed in jail if he is rearrested. He’s scheduled to next appear in court on August 15.

Police suspect Terry left the restroom right before three explosions took place there. The explosions were heard by an unnamed construction worker who was near the restroom. The worker also saw flames in a restroom stall.

He grabbed three nearby fire extinguishers and tried to extinguish the flames. Firefighters later arrived and got the blaze under control.

When firefighters made a hole in the restroom wall, they spotted “a pile of clothes and debris,” Clark County Deputy Fire Chief Warren Whitney said in a statement quoted by Las Vegas TV station KSNV.

The construction worker notified police about what he witnessed before local police reviewed surveillance video and spotted Terry, according to Las Vegas TV station KTNV.

Terry on the Strip

Police claim that after the explosions, Terry was pushing a stroller carrying a gray backpack on a Las Vegas street.

He allegedly put the backpack in a trash can near the Horseshoe Las Vegas Casino before discarding the stroller nearby.

Terry also changed his jacket to a black hoodie before walking to the Casino Royale Hotel & Casino parking garage.

He continued to enter several casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, such as the Venetian, Treasure Island, and The Mirage, police said. He was last seen on a bridge connecting the Cromwell Hotel to the Grand Bazaar Shops.

Later on Monday night, Paris Las Vegas security guards saw Terry near the CVS pharmacy in front of the gaming property.

The guards followed Terry until LVMPD officers took up the tail. Terry then began running toward the Bellagio before LVMPD officers were able to apprehend him.

During questioning, Terry said he’s frequently on the Strip and couldn’t remember if he had been in the restroom at the Paris Las Vegas.

When asked about the stroller and backpack, Terry admitted stealing the stroller, KTNV reported. He added that the backpack smelled like feces, so he discarded it, the report added.

Later, Terry told LVMPD officers he “would never start a fire and that he didn’t even have a lighter,” according to KTNV.

Accelerant Detected

A specially trained dog this week detected an apparent accelerant on or near the backpack Terry discarded.

At that point, the backpack was empty, police said. The dog is trained to detect over 400 different accelerants and more tests will be conducted, police added.

Initial estimates to repair the damage to the Paris Las Vegas were at $50K. Some occupants in the property complained of smoke inhalation, but didn’t require medical attention, authorities said.