A police officer works a crime scene in the Sahara Commercial Center District Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.
Published Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022 | 10:34 a.m.
Updated Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022 | 3:30 p.m.
Metro Police are investigating outside a Las Vegas hookah lounge in the central valley after 14 people were shot early this morning, leaving a man dead and two others in critical condition, authorities said.
Dispatchers received calls at about 3:15 a.m. referencing multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds after an altercation, homicide Capt. Dori Koren told reporters at a briefing Saturday. Officers and crime scene analysts were still on scene at Manny’s Glow Ultra Lounge & Restaurant, 953 E. Sahara Ave., Saturday afternoon.
Findings from a preliminary investigation indicate there was a party at the lounge when an altercation between two men broke out, Koren said.
Detectives believe two suspects exchanged gunfire and fled before police arrived, and victims were transported to nearby hospitals, including University Medical Center and Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.
Koren said the suspects remain outstanding, but added the shooting appears to be an “isolated incident” and that there is no threat to the general public. A description of the men was not provided.
Koren praised officers and medical personnel for quickly arriving at the scene. He said officers and medics were able to perform CPR and apply tourniquets to the victims.
“Our officers did an exceptional job,” he said.
Metro has activated “major case protocol” in response to the shooting, which pools resources from each department to aid in the ongoing investigation, Koren said. Additional information may be provided later today, he said.
One onlooker, Grace Mina, 42, of Las Vegas, watched in disbelief while wearing a white lace bridal gown and holding a large bouquet of flowers as her wedding guests arrived. Her wedding and reception was about to start at the next door Palacio Del Sol banquet hall as authorities were still processing the scene.
“It’s embarrassing,” Mina said. “A bunch of my guests flew in from a bunch of different states, and they’re not used to this. I had read this happened earlier, but I thought it would be over by now.”
One of her guests, Bryan Coca, reminded her however, that if there’s any silver lining to the day, its that it’ll be a wedding memory she’ll likely never forget.
“It’s something to remember for the rest of your life,” Coca said.
One of the officers at the scene agreed.
“Good luck!” the officer said.
Hours after the shooting, much of shopping plaza where the shooting occurred remained cordoned off by police tape as officers looked for stray bullets and other evidence.
“My thoughts are with the victim, their loved ones, and all those injured in last night’s senseless shooting at a hookah lounge,” U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., said on Twitter. “We must do more to end gun violence.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or online at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
