Two dead after fight, police shooting at North Las Vegas casino

By Ken Ritter, Associated Press

Published Thursday, May 19, 2016 | 8:14 a.m.

Updated Thursday, May 19, 2016 | 6:54 p.m.

Two North Las Vegas casino employees are dead, including a rampaging man who police said appeared to have had a "chaotic episode" before he was shot by a police officer in an employee-only area of the Silver Nugget casino, police said Thursday.

A third employee was hurt when he scuffled with the 30-year-old who then brawled with and killed a 64-year-old co-worker, North Las Vegas police Officer Ann Cavaricci said. None of the men was immediately identified.

The age of the injured employee wasn't immediately made public. Cavaricci said his injuries weren't life-threatening.

Patrol officers tried to use a stun gun "which failed to stop the suspect from attempting to attack them" before an officer shot him a little after 5:45 a.m. Thursday, according to police accounts.

"The suspect was described as a person who was having an agitated chaotic episode," Cavaricci said in a police statement.

Police haven't said whether the fights involved weapons, or if the man who was shot by police was armed at the time.

Cavaricci said the police shooting happened near an employee storeroom area not visible to casino patrons.

The man shot by police was taken to University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where he was pronounced dead.

The body of the other man was found near the storeroom.

The name of the officer wasn't immediately made public. Cavaricci said he wasn't injured, and was placed on paid leave pending departmental and district attorney reviews of the shooting.

The Silver Nugget is an old-style locals' casino, built in 1964. It has a bowling alley, bar, restaurant and a modest-sized banquet room.