Parking garage located at lower left below Rio sign was scene of gunfight on top floor
A total of five people were injured by gunfire at the Rio Las Vegas and two people were injured when more gunfire broke out at University Medical Center where the first three had been transported for treatment according to Las Vegas Metro police. LVMP responded to a “shots fired” call a few minutes before 4 Am Sunday morning on the fourth floor of the resort’s east parking lot. One LVMP officer fired his weapon at a fleeing suspect during the melee. Even though the suspect was taken to University Medical Center for treatment of a gunshot wound it was not known if the bullet came from the officers weapon or the earlier altercvation.
Police stated that four of the five injured people had known gang ties. Two vehicles were seized and search warrants were excuted as LVMP searched for evidence in their continuing investigation. Additional gunfire injuries occurred at University Medical Center where the the three Rio shooting victims were transported for treatment. A large crowd had gathered outside the hospital’s emergency room when gunfire rang out and two more people were hit.
Even though four of the five injured victims have gang affiliations, a police spokeperson said they have no current reason to believe the the shootings were gang motivated. LVMP also reported that although there were innocent bystanders on the fourth floor of the garage they were all safe and uninjured.
Police were able to respond so quickly becdause they were already on the property patrolling an event at the Crown Nightclub. Although it is not known if any of the participants had been inside the Crown it would not be the first time the club has been connected to a shooting. A shooting on the nearby Interstate I-15 freeway apparently began inside the Crown Nightclub during a January 24, 2011 incident.
The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino located just west of the Las Vegas strip on Flamingo Road is part of the Caesars Entertainment family of casinos and home to the world’s premier poker tournament, The World Series of Poker.