Shooting incident in Las Vegas kills three people

A shootout and crash in Vegas on the main strip has left three dead and others injured

12:11 22 February 2013

Three people have died as a result of a shooting and a crash which occurred at the Las Vegas strip on Thursday, police have confirmed. At least six others were left injured following the incident, which took place in the early hours of the morning at around 4.30am (12.30pm GMT).

Two cars which are understood to have been involved in the incident include a Maserati and a Range Rover. A number of other vehicles were involved in the smash, including a taxi. The taxi is believed to have set on fire after it was hit by another vehicle.

Based on reports, a gunman from the Range Rover fired a shot which led to the Maserati colliding with the taxi vehicle. Two drivers and a taxi passenger are believed to have died.

Some of the individuals who were left injured were taken to hospital to receive treatment.

The situation unfurled in a popular tourist area of the Las Vegas strip, at a crossroad near to Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road, police have said.

The Sheriff of Las Vegas, Doug Gillespie, told reporters; “This will not be tolerated.” He went on to say that a search mission aimed to find the Range Rover, which fled the scene. He added that individuals "will be found and they will be prosecuted to full extent of the law”.

Brit Mark Thompson commented on the situation and is reported by the Associated Press saying: "This doesn't happen where we come from, not on this scale.

"We get stabbings and gang violence, but this is like something out of a movie. Like Die Hard, or something."
Well-known hotels such as the Bellagio and Caesars Palace are located close to the area where the crash happened. Many tourists visit Las Vegas, which is in Nevada, US, every year. The city is renowned for gambling and slot machines.

The popular 2001 film Ocean’s 11, which stars famous actors such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon among others, focuses on Las Vegas as the plot consists of a robbing casinos including the Bellagio.