- Suspect tied to casino and citywide shooting spree.
- Police link recovered gun to multiple Las Vegas incidents.
- Child and hotel guest injured.
North Las Vegas Police say they believe a suspected serial shooter arrested in September after injuring a child is responsible for firing at Las Vegas casinos around the Strip and numerous buildings elsewhere in the city.
Hector A. Rodriguez, 36, was arrested at a North Las Vegas gas station on September 26 following a car chase that ended when the suspect was subdued by a police K-9, according to an arrest report. Police bodycam video of the takedown was released this week.
Child Shot
The shooting started September 15 when a lieutenant at the NLVPD’S Traffic Division building found a bullet hole in his office. The building was also targeted on September 17 and 18, along with multiple homes in the area, authorities said.
In the ensuing days, police received numerous reports of shootings across the Las Vegas Valley.
On September 19, a 13 year-old boy was shot in the buttocks by someone in a passing vehicle as he walked home from school. The boy was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
On the same day, shots were fired at the W Las Vegas Tower, part of the Mandalay Bay, injuring a guest inside a room, police said.
Other buildings targeted by the suspect include the Wynn Las Vegas, the Clark County Family Court complex, and the VA Medical Center.
High-Speed Chase
On the night of his arrest, Rodriguez fired a shot in the direction of police officers at a traffic stop and was pursued by police during a chase along the 215 Beltway that reached speeds of 100 mph.
NLVPD officers found a gun at his home that they were able to connect to the shootings in their jurisdiction, as well as several similar incidents that were under investigation by Las Vegas Metro Police. Investigators were also able to determine the area where Rodriguez’s cellphone was during several of the shootings.
Police said they also found video on his dashcam in which he talked about “shooting police officers in the head since they had bullet-proof vests.”
The suspect has been hit with multiple charges, including a child abuse enhancement for his attack on the boy – although the case is ongoing and more charges may be filed, according to police.
Rodriguez is due in court November 7.
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