Las Vegas Strip increasingly violent since coronavirus pandemic

[MDawg]

Labor Day weekend a fight broke out involving over 20 people inside Encore Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas sues over Labor Day weekend fight at Encore | Las Vegas Review-Journal (https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/the-strip/wynn-las-vegas-files-suit-over-labor-day-weekend-fight-at-encore-2117428/)

and although the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has said violent visitors �will not be tolerated� after its downtown area command arrested 28 people and issued 27 citations on the Friday of Labor Day weekend, instances of violence on the Strip have been sporadic, but occurring far more frequently than in recent years.

https://www.casino.org/news/low-room-rates-in-las-vegas-responsible-for-labor-day-violence-analyst/

https://www.fox5vegas.com/news/crime/las-vegas-police-discuss-recent-strip-violence-street-racing-in-neighborhoods/article_1a11ab2a-f379-11ea-b37a-af1b977bfa96.html

There was even a stabbing on the 34th floor of the Venetian in August 2020,
Las Vegas stabbing: Man stabbed at Venetian Hotel expected to survive - CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/16/us/las-vegas-venetian-hotel-stabbing-trnd/index.html)
and no one may access the Venetian hotel rooms without an active key, so this probably involved a guest in some way or another. Wynn/Encore is now implementing a similar system: "The [Wynn] properties will also scan all hotel room keys at elevator entrances so that only registered guests are admitted to the hotel towers."

[MDawg]

I think it has to do with lower priced hotel rooms - this leads to an ingress of lowlifes who cause trouble.

[MDawg]

Violence
Police grapple with violence on Las Vegas Strip | Las Vegas Review-Journal (https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/shootings/las-vegas-grapples-with-violence-on-strip-2128472/)
and shootings

Las Vegas Strip shooting injures 2 | Las Vegas Review-Journal (https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/shootings/2-wounded-suspect-in-custody-after-las-vegas-strip-shooting-2124736/)

Las Vegas Strip shooting leaves 1 with minor injury | Las Vegas Review-Journal (https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/shootings/shooter-sought-after-1-grazed-in-latest-las-vegas-strip-violence-2127960/)

continue on the Strip.

Crowds, Alcohol, Drugs Fueling Vegas Strip Violence (https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/nevada/articles/2020-09-23/sheriff-crowds-alcohol-drugs-fueling-vegas-strip-violence)

[MDawg]

Gun went off during struggle as a witness tried to get a gun away from someone who pulled a gun on another in front of an elevator at the MGM Grand. The witness managed to secure the gun but the two who were fighting got away.
Shot fired as 2 struggle over gun on MGM Grand casino floor | Las Vegas Review-Journal (https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/shootings/shot-fired-as-2-struggle-over-gun-on-mgm-casino-floor-2134851/)

[MDawg]

There was another shooting earlier in the week on the Strip, as one of two men who met a drug dealer make a buy ended up shot, as the deal went bad.
Man injured in shooting near Miracle Mile Shops on Las Vegas Strip | Las Vegas Local Breaking News, Headlines | fox5vegas.com (https://www.fox5vegas.com/news/man-injured-in-shooting-near-miracle-mile-shops-on-las-vegas-strip/article_815079f6-0c38-11eb-bf0b-87553a2ed4ef.html)

And by the way, I found out that the stabbing at Venetian
Las Vegas stabbing: Man stabbed at Venetian Hotel expected to survive - CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/16/us/las-vegas-venetian-hotel-stabbing-trnd/index.html)
in August 2020, was something over a dispute over a woman.

[MDawg]

Fight broke out on the Venetian floor between two groups. Both sides ejected by casino security. Brawl continued outside by the Palazzo, one tried to pull a gun from his waistband and another tried to stop him from pulling it out. The gun went off, one guy's in the hospital in critical condition, and the gunman and another party were arrested after fleeing to Treasure Island across the street.

Las Vegas Strips shooting leaves 1 man wounded | Las Vegas Review-Journal (https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/shootings/man-critical-after-fight-leads-to-shooting-on-las-vegas-strip-2257219/)

[MDawg]

So this poor guy is walking on the Strip (albeit at 4:30am) with a female that he probably met in Vegas, some black guy who has a history of assault and battery insults them then runs down the steps to get in front of them as they ride the escalator down at the corner of S LV Blvd. and Flamingo, and punches the guy so hard that he falls back, hits his head, and dies.
Man killed after being punched on Las Vegas Strip identified, suspect gives little information to police | KLAS (https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/man-killed-after-being-punched-on-las-vegas-strip-identified-suspect-gives-little-information-to-police/)

And of course, only the good die young.
Murder victim on Las Vegas Strip had hiking plans | Las Vegas Review-Journal (https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/homicides/strip-punching-attack-victim-had-planned-to-hike-pacific-crest-trail-2292569/)
The guy was a former police officer and was just stopping in Vegas on his way to hike the West Coast mountains, and a devoted father to two kids who weren't even his own.

[casinomachines]

When I was playing I can play well and easy to understand the game.

[MDawg]

2 dead, 3 in critical condition from stabbings outside Las Vegas casino: Police (https://www.yahoo.com/gma/6-stabbed-front-las-vegas-191119415.html)

Two people are dead and three are in critical condition from a series of stabbings outside the Wynn casino on Thursday, according to police.

The scene this afternoon - Sands Ave. closed off east of the Strip, until just east of the Palazzo self parking garage exit.
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By night, scene cleared, increased police presence though to keep the peace and reassure the public.
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Sands Avenue bridge reopened.
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[MDawg]

Here are some other recent attacks on the Vegas Strip:


Sept. 10: A fight near E. Flamingo Road and the Strip ended in an arrest after one person was found with apparent stab wounds (https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/fight-leads-to-stabbing-on-las-vegas-strip/).
Aug. 4: One man was killed and two women were injured at The Mirage in an altercation among family members (https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/i-team-sources-multiple-victims-in-shooting-at-mirage-hotel-on-las-vegas-strip/). Billy Hemsley, 54, was arrested.
July 9: A man is accused of driving his car into a group of Black individuals in an attack police describe as racially motivated (https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/man-stabbed-in-racially-motivated-fight-near-las-vegas-strip-police-say/). The attack happened near the Marriot Grand Chateau on East Harmon Avenue near the Strip.
June 14: Just north of the Strip at Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue, three people were shot in a robbery attempt (https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/shoplifting-suspect-shoots-self-2-others-after-stealing-sweater-on-las-vegas-strip/) at the World�s Largest Gift Shop. Mercedes Cage, 35, of California was arrested.
March 26: Freddy Allen, 58, is accused of stabbing a man to death (https://www.8newsnow.com/news/police-investigate-deadly-stabbing-at-las-vegas-strip-pedestrian-bridge/) at the footbridge between New York New York and the MGM Grand Hotel.
Jan. 12: South of the Strip, Metro police shot a man (https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/las-vegas-police-involved-in-shooting-near-las-vegas-blvd-and-sunset/) at Town Square mall after shots were fired at officers.


Two high-profile crimes on the Strip last year were big stories:


Dec. 31, 2021: A New Year�s Eve crime spree (https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/woman-killed-in-robbery-at-fashion-show-parking-garage-was-shot-in-back-of-neck-coroner-says/) left two people dead � one at the Fashion Show mall parking garage and one at the Palace Station parking garage. Jordan Ruby, 18, and Jesani Carter, 21, each face two murder charges.
April 25, 2021: Malik Frost, 27, was convicted in a deadly shooting at the Hawaiian Marketplace (https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/suspect-in-custody-following-deadly-shooting-on-las-vegas-strip/) on the Strip near Harmon Avenue. The attack started when a rock was thrown, apparently after an argument over a bathroom stall.

The incidents followed a period in late 2019 and early 2020 when Metro police increased patrols on the Strip following several incidents that made headlines. At the time, concern from businesses and officials was elevated, and people were worried that the attacks could affect tourism.

[MDawg]

In the aftermath of the recents stabbings on the sidewalk outside Wynn, Millicents posted outside Palazzo, flashing lights unmarked police cars, and two deputies on the Sands Ave. bridge.

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[MDawg]

So one night recently at one of the casinos, I played for a while and then went to dinner. I was in a kick ass mood due to having won not just that night but all week, and I was texting a friend as I went up the escalator. When I got to the top I paused, distracted, looking at my phone and actually came to a standstill at the top of the escalator � completely off the escalator but just a couple of steps forward of it. Anyway, this couple came up behind me I guess, got off the escalator and I imagine I was somewhat blocking them. It was this skinny medium height black guy with this dumpy looking white girl. He actually pushed me, open palm flat on my back against my coat!

Not hard or anything, but I felt it. Didn't jar me whatsoever, but it wasn't a soft tap either, it was a push. I was in a such a good mood though that when I turned around I just looked him over and starting laughing at him, which confused him and he didn�t know what to say. I just waved my arm at him dismissively, and smiled from ear to ear, and said, "Sorry, I�m just a little distracted," and walked away. He was saying something about, �You don�t just STAND at the top of an escalator,� but I wasn�t listening. I didn�t want to interrupt my positive energy flow with any negativity.

So, what ya� think? Part of me is wishing I�d reacted more harshly to his daring to touch me, but then at the same time, I maintained my positivity, ate dinner, forgot all about it, and kept winning at the tables after dinner too. I think if I had reacted any other way, it might�ve put a damper on the night. And the casino where this happened is known for incidents between customers on drunken weekends.