Weekend shooting shuts down portion of Las Vegas Strip
Shooting and barricade situation leads to peaceful surrender on Vegas strip, one tourist dead
The Las Vegas strip returned to normal after the deadly weekend shooting and barricade situation. The suspect, Rolando Cardenas, surrendered peacefully to police on the scene after a four-hour-long standoff near the Cosmopolitan Hotel.
According to police, he is being charged in the killing of 57-year-old Gary Breitling from Sidney, Montana. Breitling's family told Fox 5 "he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather... Friends remembered him as a happy person who made those around him smile".
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Police say Cardenas was riding a public double-decker bus. Cardenas who was sitting in the back got up and fired off several rounds from a handgun striking two individuals. Breitling was shot by Cardenas and succumbed to his injuries. Another victim was shot in the stomach, but that person's identity has not been made public.
The bus driver stopped the bus so passengers could evacuate. Cardenas then barricaded himself in the bus for hours, resulting in the closure of a significant part of the strip between the Bellagio and Cosmopolitan hotels.
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Police have not identified a motive for the shooting saying it seems to have been “for no apparent reason.”
What is normally a busy thoroughfare with taxis and tourists, the cordoned-off part of the strip remained completely empty Saturday afternoon. Police did not know if there were any other passengers on the bus when the barricade started so crisis negotiators were called in. It was never a hostage situation. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, there was a loud bang near the scene about 1:45 p.m. local time. Police used a flash-bang to break the bus windows. Units then placed a robot inside the bus. The robot confirmed to officers the shooter was still inside.
Guests at the Cosmopolitan hotel were told to remain in their rooms during the unfolding events while hotel rooms were put on lockdown. In a statement on their website, the hotel told guests who were scheduled to arrive the day of the shooting could cancel their arrangements without penalty. Those playing games at the casino were told to contact Casino Services for a resolution in their games.
Cardenas is facing an open murder charge with use of a firearm along with attempted murder with use of a firearm, burglary while in possession of a firearm, and discharging a gun within a vehicle. He is currently being held at the Clark County Detention Center.
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