Drug deal gone bad
Police believe that a drug deal led to a shootout on Saturday afternoon in the Tropicana Las Vegas parking lot, leaving at least one man with gunshot wounds.
The man who sustained the gunshot injuries was at the scene when the police arrived. The other person involved in the shootout fled. There is no indication yet as to whether or not he was also injured.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department believes that the two men met at the parking lot to conduct a drug deal. It is unknown which person was the buyer and which was the seller.
investigation is still in its early stages
Police say the investigation is still in its early stages and provided no comment on what charges, if any, the injured man will receive. He was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, while the other man involved in the incident is still at large.
Shootings in Sin City
The shooting in the Tropicana parking lot is just the latest instance of violence on the Las Vegas Strip in recent months. On November 13, a person was shot after an argument, shortly before midnight outside of the MGM Grand. The authorities arrested the shooter, and the victim’s exact injuries were unclear at the time.
On November 7, four people suffered injuries following a shooting incident at the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino’s Adventuredome theme park. The juvenile suspect is now facing charges that include attempted murder and battery with a deadly weapon.
Other notable incidents of late include a shooting on the MGM Grand casino floor and shootings outside the ARIA Resort & Casino and Paris Las Vegas.
A tough time for Las Vegas
The Las Vegas authorities are trying to deal with the uptick in serious crimes in recent months. Las Vegas sheriff Joe Lombardo is making it a top priority to immediately address violent crime in the city.
Lombardo believes there is a direct link between the pandemic and rising crime rates across the United States. He pointed toward unemployment, anxiety, and the inability to blow off steam as some potential contributing factors.
casinos can only operate at 25% capacity
Casinos in Las Vegas have been struggling to recover since reopening in June after 78 days of shutdowns. Gaming revenues were down 45% year-on-year in September, with visitor numbers to the city also falling significantly. With rising COVID-19 cases in Nevada, casinos can only operate at 25% capacity for a three-week period beginning November 24.