A deadly shooting in the suburb of Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada, has claimed the lives of three individuals, including the shooter, at the Prince Law Group’s office. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed the incident on Monday, April 8.
Dennis Prince, a well-known attorney, and his wife Ashley Prince were killed during a law deposition. The shooter, James W. Houston II, the ex-father-in-law of Ashley Prince, later took his own life.
The shooting occurred at around 10 a.m., in an office building approximately 15 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip. This building is known for housing professional services. Lieutenant Jason Johansson of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, during a press briefing, detailed the preliminary findings. The shooting was connected to a child custody deposition involving Ashley Prince and her ex-husband, Dylan Edward Houston. James W. Houston II, who was also a lawyer, was representing his son, Dylan, in the contentious case.
The day of the shooting coincided with Ashley Prince filing an emergency motion for sole custody of her two children with Dylan Houston. This action added an element of urgency to the already tense legal proceedings which sadly escalated to violence. Previously, Ashley had been awarded joint custody of the children.
Noted as one of Nevada’s leading trial lawyers, Dennis Prince was representing his wife, Ashley, against her ex-husband in the custody case. The couple had recently celebrated the birth of a new baby.
The incident led to a swift response from local authorities, which triggered short-term lockdowns at nearby schools as a precautionary measure. However, these lockdowns were lifted without further issues, and adjacent businesses were not impacted by similar procedures.
The sudden loss of the couple has deeply affected the local and legal communities. Dennis Prince, especially, has been praised for his significant contributions to the Nevada legal community. Robert Eglet, a former law partner, lamented the devastating impact of their loss, describing Prince as being ‘one of the best trial lawyers in the state.’
In 2016, Prince was honored as the Nevada Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Nevada Justice Association, having successfully litigated over 100 jury trial cases.
The GGRM Law Firm, a personal injury law firm based in Winchester, issued a formal statement following the tragic announcement of the couple’s death.
“The violent act that led to the tragic loss of our esteemed colleague, Dennis Prince, and his wife, Ashley, has deeply disturbed and saddened us,” the firm expressed in their statement.
“Ashley’s unwavering kindness and empathy, always displayed alongside her husband, profoundly impacted everyone she met with her genuine care and generosity,” they further added.
