It seems almost every few days there is another incident reported from the Las Vegas Strip involving a shooting. For the past few weeks, the area has been plagued with incidents, from fighting to shootings, with most resulting in injury while others have seen victims die due to the gunshot wounds. The most recent incident took place near the Planet Hollywood Hotel-Casino and the Miracle Mile Shops with one man hospitalized.
The Most Recent Incident
The recent shooting incident took place right before 7:30 pm on Sunday night. It was captured on video and information was posted online via KSNV-TV via their Twitter page. The video is filled with profanity and shows a person taunting a man that is trying to walk away. The man walking away has one hand inside a backpack.
When two men decide to approach the man with the backpack, he takes out a gun and fires it. In the video, it shows the victim fall to the ground. The shooter then ran north on the Strip and police are still trying to find him.
Police feel the shooting took place due to a drug transaction. The victim was taken to the hospital and is facing a non-life threatening injury. The shooting took place near the Planet Hollywood Hotel-Casino and the Miracle Mile Shops. Neither were locked down due to the incident.
Tackling the Problem
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the incidents of violence on the Strip can be attributed to out-of-state gangs and tourists. To try and stop the activity from taking place, police are increasing their patrols in the areas where tourism is the most prevalent. Just this past Friday and Saturday, police arrest 85 people due to various incidents.
While police are doing their part, casinos are also stepping up and making changes to protect players and their employees. The main time frame of concern for such incidents are on Fridays and Saturdays. So, casinos are changing up security routines on these days to provide an added element of protection.
Wynn Resorts decided to increase security measures at the Encore and Wynn Las Vegas. They also decided to raise the room rates. A K-9 team has been brought in and more security officers to try and squash any issues before they happen.
Guests who travel to Wynn Resorts on the weekends will be subject to a metal detector scanner. Officers are also going to be inspecting hand-bags.
The Cosmopolitan is also taking more precautions with their security team. Bag checks and metal detectors are used on the weekends. No one can visit the Cosmopolitan from 6pm to 6am on a Friday or Saturday if they do not have a reservation at an on-site restaurant or at the hotel. Rewards members will be allowed inside.
Hopefully, the incidents of violence will start to slow down on the Strip and eventually become nonexistent. The added police presence and changes within casinos should help to cut down on the number of incidents taking place each week.
