In a tragic incident that unfolded in Las Vegas, prominent attorney Dennis Prince and his wife, Ashley Prince, were fatally shot by her former father-in-law, James W. Houston II, during a child custody deposition. The violent confrontation occurred on Monday morning at the Prince Law Group’s office, situated approximately 15 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip. Following the attack, Houston turned the gun on himself, resulting in his death.
The deposition was part of ongoing child custody proceedings involving two children that Ashley Prince had with her ex-husband, Dylan Edward Houston. James W. Houston II, the shooter, was representing his son in this legal matter. Ashley Prince had previously been married to Dylan Edward Houston, another lawyer, before their divorce in 2021.
On the day of the shooting, Ashley Prince had filed an emergency motion seeking sole custody of the minor children and for attorneys’ fees and costs. Tragically, it was also reported that Dennis and Ashley Prince had recently welcomed a new baby into their family.
The incident prompted nearby schools to implement brief, soft lockdowns, which were later lifted. While the immediate vicinity, including businesses such as City National Bank and a Life Time gym, were not placed on lockdown, police did close off traffic in the area around Charleston Boulevard and Pavilion Center Drive in response to the shooting.
Robert Eglet, Prince’s former law partner, mourned the loss, highlighting Prince’s reputation as one of Nevada’s top trial lawyers. He expressed the profound impact of this loss on the community and the legal profession, describing the event as a nightmare for every family. The community and the legal field are left to grapple with the repercussions of this senseless act of violence.