Deadly Shooting at Las Vegas Athletic Club Leaves 2 Dead, 3 Injured – Police Say Gunman Killed by Officers
LAS VEGAS — What began as a typical afternoon at a popular gym on the west side of Las Vegas quickly turned into a scene of terror and tragedy Friday, as a gunman opened fire inside the Las Vegas Athletic Club (LVAC), killing one person and injuring three others before being shot and killed by police outside the facility.
The incident unfolded shortly before 4 p.m. at the busy fitness center located near Rainbow Boulevard and Alta Drive. According to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Undersheriff Andrew Walsh, officers responded to reports of a shooting and arrived to find chaos unfolding inside the gym.
Gunfire Erupts Inside the Gym
Witnesses described a scene of panic as shots rang out near the workout equipment area. One man was fatally shot inside the building, Walsh confirmed, while gym-goers scrambled to escape or take cover.
Claudio Vigani, who was working out at the time, told KLAS-TV he heard the commotion and people yelling for others to run. “They said ‘Get out, get out, get out,’” Vigani recalled. “Then I saw the dead guy next to the machine.”
Walsh said officers encountered the armed suspect exiting the building. The man was shot by police after reportedly failing to comply with commands and posing an immediate threat. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The identity of the suspect has not been publicly released as of Saturday morning.
Multiple Victims Rushed to Hospitals
Three other individuals were injured during the shooting. All were transported to nearby hospitals, and one remains in critical condition. Police did not specify whether all the injuries were caused by gunfire or if some occurred during the rush to evacuate the building.
Emergency responders worked swiftly to secure the area, treat the wounded, and evacuate the gym. Authorities have since confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Close Call for Some Gym Members
As more details emerge, accounts from near-miss survivors have underscored just how close this could have been to an even greater tragedy.
Gary Steward and a companion were just moments away from entering the gym when the shooting began. By chance, they stopped at a nearby nutrition store on the way in. That brief delay may have saved their lives.
“If we hadn’t stopped there, we would have walked in through the front desk, where the shooter came in,” Steward told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. As they approached the entrance, they saw shattered glass and fled back to the parking lot.
“It’s just a weird feeling right now,” he said. “It’s strange. Who shoots up a gym?”
Motive Remains Unclear
As investigators continue combing through evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing surveillance footage, the motive behind the attack remains unknown.
Undersheriff Walsh noted that there’s no indication yet whether the shooting was targeted or random. Authorities are also working to determine if the suspect had any connection to the gym, its staff, or its members.
Community Shaken by Sudden Violence
The Las Vegas Athletic Club is a popular fitness chain with multiple locations throughout the city. For many local residents, it’s a daily stop — a place to improve health and unwind. The news of a deadly shooting at such a familiar location has deeply unsettled the community.
Social media was quickly flooded with posts from concerned residents and gym members checking on loved ones or sharing their shock. As of Friday evening, calls to the gym and its corporate office went unanswered.
A Broader Conversation on Public Safety
This incident adds to a growing list of public shootings in places once considered safe — schools, malls, churches, and now fitness centers. As Las Vegas police continue their investigation, the shooting will likely reignite conversations about security in public spaces and mental health resources.
For now, the focus remains on the victims and their families. Local officials have not yet released the identities of those killed or injured, pending notification of next of kin.
The Las Vegas Metro Police Department urges anyone with information or footage related to the incident to come forward as detectives continue working to piece together the events leading up to Friday’s shooting.
Source: AP News – 2 dead and at least 3 injured in Las Vegas gym shooting, police say
