A shooting in the upscale district of Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada at the Prince Law Group office resulted in three fatalities, as reported by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on Monday, April 8.
Victims of the shooting include well-known lawyer Dennis Prince and his wife, Ashley Prince. The attacker, identified as James W. Houston II, Ashley’s former father-in-law, later committed suicide.
The incident happened at approximately 10 a.m., in an office situated about 15 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, in a mid-rise building known to house professional services. According to Lieutenant Jason Johansson of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in a press conference, the shooting was linked to a child custody deposition involving the two children of Ashley Prince and her ex-husband, Dylan Edward Houston. James W. Houston II, a lawyer, was representing his son, Dylan, in this intensely personal matter.
On the day of the incident, Ashley Prince had submitted an emergency motion for sole custody of her children with Dylan Houston, adding an element of urgency to the legal proceedings that ended tragically. The custody dispute over their two children was central to the conflict. Ashley had previously been awarded joint custody.
Dennis Prince, acknowledged as one of Nevada’s leading trial lawyers, was representing his wife, Ashley, against her ex-husband. The couple had recently become parents to a new baby.
After the shooting, local authorities responded, resulting in temporary lockdowns at nearby schools. These were later lifted without further incidents, and no similar measures were taken for nearby businesses.
Both the local and legal communities have expressed deep sadness over the death of the couple. Dennis Prince was particularly praised for his professional accomplishments and contributions to Nevada’s legal field. Reflecting on the tragedy, former law partner Robert Eglet mourned, stating Prince was ‘one of the best trial lawyers in the state.’
Prince was named the Nevada Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2016 by the Nevada Justice Association, having brought over 100 cases to verdict before a jury.
GGRM Law Firm, a personal injury specialist based in Winchester, released a formal statement after the tragic news of the couple’s death.
“Our respected colleague, Dennis Prince, and his wife, Ashley, were tragically lost due to a violent act that has left us shocked and grieving,” the firm stated.
“Ashley, ever at his side, consistently demonstrated kindness and empathy, deeply touching those she met with her genuine care and generosity,” they further added.
