LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — One man was killed and two women were injured in a shooting Thursday evening at the Mirage hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, police said.
The altercation began as an argument among four family members, police said Friday.
The suspected shooter, Billy Hemsley, 54, was taken into custody early Friday morning near Nellis Boulevard and Twain Avenue, LVMPD Lt. Jason Johansson said.
The shooting, which happened on the hotel’s eighth floor, was reported around 8:40 p.m., police said.
Police said they found the shooting victim, Aucturius Dwyane Milner, Hemsley’s cousin, lying on the floor of the hotel room, suffering from several gunshot wounds. Two women were also injured and taken to the hospital, police said.
Court records show Hemsley shot a person with the same name as Milner in 2003. Milner survived the shooting. A family member confirmed the Milner killed Thursday was the same one Hemsley shot nearly 20 years ago.
Police said they quickly identified Hemsley as a suspect while speaking with witnesses Thursday night.
Other family members told police Milner and Hemsley were “play fighting” when Hemsley pulled out a gun and fired toward Milner. Hemsley later told officers he shot his cousin when he was choking him.
Hemsley reportedly followed one family member out of the hotel room and down a hallway, police said.
Around midnight Friday, a person called 911, saying Hemsley had told them that he had shot his cousin.
Around 2:40 a.m., police found Hemsley at a bus stop near the intersection of Nellis Boulevard and Twain Avenue, police said. A gun was found in his waistband, then said.
The 8 News Now I-Team first reported the information Thursday night through sources. Officers arrived on the scene within a minute of the 911 call, Koren said.
“Any types of extreme violence in our city we take very seriously,” LVMPD Capt. Dori Koren said. “You’ve seen it in all the investigations we conduct. We are confident we will solve this case.”
In an early morning tweet, Koren announced a suspect was identified, located and arrested within six hours of the homicide.
The shooting prompted hotel security and Metro police to restrict access to the property. Video from guests showed police entering the hotel and casino with shields.
Police did not issue a photo of the suspect, later identified as Hemsley, on Thursday night but said at least one person who was in the room has ties to the area. Koren said there was no threat to the public.
Security allowed guests back onto the property around 10:50 p.m.
Hemsley faces charges of murder and attempted murder. Records show he was due in court Saturday.
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Stay with 8 News Now as this story develops.
