Poker Writer
A potential mass shooting was averted in Las Vegas after authorities arrested a suspect with 22 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in the parking garage of a casino.
Henderson-area dispatch received a 911 call on the morning of June 27, as the caller said their ex-spouse, Allison Howlett, had stolen their car, which had several firearms inside. The caller said the 36-year-old intended to commit a mass shooting and die at the hands of the police.
Police tracked the stolen car and cornered Howlett at the Sunset Station Hotel and Casino parking garage. After a brief stand-off in the garage, police made the arrest. They tased Howlett once during the process. They said Howlett had a handgun and a rifle within arm’s reach. Police found many more firearms in the car upon an eventual search.
The suspect then denied knowing about the guns after the arrest. She also denied making any threat of a mass shooting and said she simply took the car as part of a domestic argument.
There were no details as to exactly where in Las Vegas Howlett had planned to commit the shooting. Authorities are investigating whether she had a specific target in mind and whether any security enhancements are needed in light of that.
There is now a $500,000 bail set for Howlett. She faces charges including terrorism, grand larceny, and multiple weapons offenses.
Keep Reading
Howlett Had a History of Shooting Threats
Howlett reportedly had a history of making threats of a mass shooting. Howlett’s partner, Julie Howlett, told police that the threats go back as far as 2024, when Howlett said she was planning to commit suicide by cop after taking out several people. In a 38-minute recording from January 2024, Howlett said:
If the FBI doesn’t come and arrest me, there’s going to be a f—ing mass shooting. You’re going to be the reason hundreds of people lose their goddamn lives.
Her partner also said that Howlett often put a gun to her own head, threatening suicide during bouts of anger or arguments.
The threats became so common that Julie Howlett said it was hard to think of them as serious after a while. But the stealing of the car with firearms prompted her to act to contact authorities.
When police searched Howlett’s residence, they found still more firearms. These included assault rifles, grenade launchers, silencers, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
“The safety of our community remains all of our highest priorities,” said Undersheriff Andrew Walsh. “Every day, law enforcement officers work diligently with our local, state, and federal partners to identify threats, investigate credible information, and intervene before violence can occur.”
