Two killed, three injured in Las Vegas Athletic Club mass shooting
3 Min Read
The Las Vegas gym shooting is the latest in a troubling series of mass shootings across the US, highlighting the nation’s ongoing struggle with gun violence.
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In this Aug. 6, 2019, file photo, police officers walk behind a Walmart at the scene of a mass shooting at a shopping complex in El Paso, Texas (AP)
A deadly shooting took place at the Las Vegas Athletic Club on Thursday afternoon, leaving two people dead, including the suspected gunman, and three others injured, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD).
The incident occurred at approximately 1:34 pm local time on May 16 at a fitness facility located on the 1700 block of North Rainbow Boulevard. The LVMPD Communications Center received multiple emergency calls reporting gunfire inside the gym, prompting an immediate law enforcement response.
Officers arriving at the scene encountered the suspect at the entrance to the building. According to a police statement, “The suspect ran out the door and officers discharged their firearms striking him.” The individual was transported to a nearby hospital but was later pronounced dead.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the gunman, and the motive behind the attack remains under investigation.
Casualties, ongoing investigation
Inside the gym, officers found one individual who had died from gunshot wounds. Two others were injured and transported by emergency services to a local hospital. One of the victims remains in critical condition, while the other is being treated for less severe injuries.
A third injured person, suffering from non-life-threatening wounds, arrived at the hospital independently, police said.
The LVMPD has launched a full investigation into the Las Vegas gym shooting, part of a wider pattern of gun violence in Nevada and across the United States. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact law enforcement.
Wider context
Gun violence is a frequent issue in the United States. Despite public opinion polls showing a desire for stricter gun regulations, the strong influence of the gun rights lobby, constitutional protections, and a deeply ingrained gun culture create significant political obstacles to enacting tighter controls.
On January 22, a shooting at Antioch High School in Tennessee left a student and the perpetrator dead, and another student injured. In February, a gunman opened fire at UPMC Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania, killing a police officer and wounding several others before being fatally shot.
March witnessed a deadly attack at a car show in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where three teenagers were killed and 15 others were injured. In April, a Florida State University student was indicted for a campus shooting that claimed two lives and left six others wounded.
Despite these alarming mass shootings, gun laws in America remain loose.
Read next: One in 15 Americans has witnessed a mass shooting, study shows
