Las Vegas police arrested Allison Howlett, 36, on Saturday on charges including making terroristic threats, assault with a deadly weapon, auto theft, and gun theft, in connection with an alleged plot to carry out a casino massacre. Howlett, who identifies as transgender, was taken into custody after a confrontation at the Sunset Station hotel.
The incident began when Howlett's former spouse contacted police, reporting that Howlett had stolen her car, which contained numerous firearms. The former spouse told authorities that Howlett intended to commit "suicide by cop" or carry out a mass shooting. Using a phone app to track the stolen vehicle, the former spouse led law enforcement to its location in a hotel garage.
According to Henderson Police Chief Reggie Rader, officers approached the vehicle and found Howlett playing music loudly and refusing commands to exit. After establishing communication, officers were able to persuade Howlett to lower the window. When Howlett requested a drink of water, officers devised a plan to apprehend her as she reached for it. During the arrest, officers used a Taser to subdue Howlett.
Investigators were surprised to find a handgun on which Howlett was sitting and an MP5 submachine gun in the back seat of the car. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded an additional 22 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. A search of Howlett's home in Henderson uncovered 30 more firearms, including automatic rifles, as well as ammunition, grenade launcher attachments, and silencers.
Police stated that Howlett had made threats for years, including a 2024 call captured on recording where she allegedly said, "I swear to God, if the FBI doesn’t come f—— arrest me, there’s gonna be a f—— mass shooting." The investigation into the motive for the alleged plot is ongoing. Howlett remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center.