Las Vegas, Nevada — A tragic shooting at a fitness center left one person dead and at least three others injured Friday afternoon. The incident unfolded at the Las Vegas Athletic Club on North Rainbow Boulevard, prompting a swift police response around 1:34 p.m. local time.
When authorities arrived, they encountered a suspect, who allegedly fled the scene while armed. Officers engaged with the suspect, resulting in police firing their weapons. The suspect was apprehended but later died at a local hospital.
At the scene, emergency responders found one individual deceased, while two others sustained serious injuries. One of these victims remains in critical condition, according to reports from law enforcement. A third injured party sought medical attention independently and is believed to have non-life-threatening injuries.
Police reports state that officers identified a suspect brandishing a firearm at the club’s entrance. After the suspect attempted to escape, officers discharged their weapons, striking him in the process.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as shots rang out inside the gym. Gary Steward, a nearby patron, recounted the moments leading up to the violence, stating that he saw the suspect enter and heard gunfire shortly after. “People started flying out as bullets started coming through,” he recalled.
Another witness, Claudio Vigani, spoke of the immediate urgency following the shooting, stating, “They said ‘Get out, get out, get out,’ then I saw the dead guy next to the machine.”
In light of the incident, the Las Vegas Athletic Club issued a statement expressing heartbreak over the tragedy. “Our prayers are with the victims, their families, our members, and our team,” it read. The organization confirmed the facility would remain closed temporarily to assist with the ongoing police investigation.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has stated that this incident marks the third officer-involved shooting this year. Authorities indicated that none of the officers present were injured during the confrontation.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with officials seeking to understand the events leading up to the violence. The identity of the suspect has not been disclosed at this time. Several community members are left grappling with the shock and aftermath of the unexpected tragedy.