Las Vegas Sun

April 24, 2024

Man pleads not guilty in mall terror case

Emile Daren Hobson

Emile Daren Hobson

A 25-year-old Las Vegas man has pleaded not guilty to a felony terrorism charge after he was accused of panicking shoppers by donning a mask and carrying a replica AK-47 assault rifle through a busy indoor shopping mall.

A judge on Thursday set a Feb. 25 trial date for Emile Hobson, who is being held on $300,000 bail at the Clark County jail following his May 17 arrest.

Hobson also uses the name Hopson. His court-appointed attorney, Daniel Bunin, didn't immediately respond Friday to messages.

Hundreds of people fled and police mounted an active-shooter response after witnesses reported a masked man walking with a weapon through the 140-store Boulevard Mall.

Hopson wasn't found during a search of the mall. He was arrested at his nearby apartment a few hours later.