Mother and Daughter Killed in Apparent Murder-Suicide in Las Vegas Hotel

Police say the pre-teen cheerleader and her mother were found dead from gunshot wounds in their hotel room.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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A mother and her pre-teen cheerleader daughter were found dead in a Las Vegas hotel room over the weekend in what police are investigating as an apparent murder-suicide. The two were in town from Utah for a cheer competition when the incident occurred. Police were called to the Rio Hotel & Casino near the Vegas Strip after receiving requests for a welfare check on the pair, and found them both unresponsive with gunshot wounds. The mother is believed to have shot her daughter before turning the gun on herself.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing issue of domestic violence and the devastating impact it can have, even involving the most vulnerable members of a family. It also raises questions about the safety and security measures in place at large hotels and events, and whether more could be done to prevent such tragedies from occurring.

The details

According to police, officers and hotel security first responded to a request for a welfare check on the mother and daughter on Sunday morning, but did not get a response when they knocked on the door and called into the room. Later that afternoon, police received additional requests to check on the pair, at which point they decided to enter the room. Inside, they found the mother and daughter both unresponsive and suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Homicide detectives determined that the mother had shot her daughter before turning the gun on herself.

  • On Sunday morning, police and hotel security responded to a request for a welfare check on the mother and daughter.
  • Later that same Sunday afternoon, police received additional requests to check on the pair.

The players

Mother

The mother of the pre-teen cheerleader, who is believed to have shot her daughter before taking her own life.

Daughter

The pre-teen cheerleader who was killed by her mother in an apparent murder-suicide incident.

Metro Police

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, who responded to the incident and are investigating the apparent murder-suicide.

Rio Hotel & Casino

The Las Vegas hotel where the mother and daughter were staying when the incident occurred.

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What’s next

Homicide detectives are continuing to investigate the incident to determine the exact circumstances and timeline of events.

The takeaway

This heartbreaking tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the critical need for greater awareness, resources, and support to address domestic violence and protect vulnerable individuals, even in seemingly safe environments like hotels and cheer competitions.