Las Vegas, Nevada — A chaotic scene unfolded at a local gym last Friday when a gunman opened fire, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to three others. Bodycam footage from responding officers captures the moment police intervened, bringing the violent outburst to an abrupt end.
Daniel Ortega, 34, entered the Las Vegas Athletic Club with a rifle, initially interacting casually with staff at the front desk. However, within moments, he turned violent, firing 24 rounds at people in the gym lobby. His onslaught tragically claimed the life of 31-year-old gym manager Edgar Quinonez and wounded three others before Ortega’s weapon malfunctioned. Fortunately, this jam prevented further casualties, as police believe Ortega intended to continue his attack.
As Ortega exited the gym and made his way toward the parking lot, officers had arrived on the scene. The bodycam footage reveals a tense standoff, with one officer edging around a corner only to have Ortega suddenly reappear, still armed. The officer immediately opened fire, striking Ortega, who later succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital.
Police officials noted that the malfunctioning weapon likely prevented a more tragic outcome. “Fortunately, this gentleman had a malfunction in his weapon, which actually saved this from being a mass casualty event,” stated Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Assistant Sheriff Jamie Prosser.
Authorities are currently investigating the motives behind Ortega’s shocking outburst. While he was a member of the gym, there is no immediate evidence linking him to Quinonez or any of the wounded individuals. The conditions of the injured remain unclear, and ongoing investigations are seeking to determine whether they were employees or patrons of the facility.
This incident comes against the backdrop of Las Vegas’s history with mass shootings, notably the tragic events of 2017 when a gunman took the lives of 61 people during the Route 91 Harvest music festival. The latest shooting has again raised concerns about gun violence in the community.
Officers continue to work diligently to piece together the events leading up to the shooting, emphasizing the importance of understanding why such violence erupted unexpectedly in a normally peaceful environment. As the community processes this incident, questions linger about what could have been a far more devastating outcome had Ortega’s weapon functioned properly.