Three people are dead following a shooting at the Prince Law Group’s office located in the affluent suburb of Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported on Monday, April 8.
Dennis Prince, a prominent local attorney, and his wife, Ashley Prince, were fatally shot during a legal deposition. The assailant, identified as James W. Houston II, the former father-in-law of Ashley Prince, later committed suicide.
The incident occurred at around 10 a.m. in the office situated roughly 15 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, in a mid-rise building known for housing professional services. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Lieutenant Jason Johansson, in a news briefing, outlined the preliminary findings, indicating that the shooting was related to a child custody deposition involving Ashley Prince and her ex-husband, Dylan Edward Houston, with whom she shared two children. James W. Houston II, an attorney, was representing his son, Dylan, in this deeply personal dispute.
On the day of the shooting, Ashley Prince had filed an emergency motion for sole custody of her children with Dylan Houston, adding a layer of urgency to the legal proceedings that tragically escalated. The custody battle over their two children was at the heart of the conflict, with Ashley having been previously granted joint custody.
Dennis Prince, recognized as one of Nevada’s top trial lawyers, was representing his wife, Ashley, against her ex-husband.
The deceased couple had just welcomed a new baby.
The shooting prompted a response from local authorities, resulting in brief, precautionary lockdowns at nearby schools. The lockdowns were lifted without further incidents, and nearby businesses were not subjected to similar precautions.
The local and legal communities have expressed profound grief over the loss of the couple. Dennis Prince, in particular, was lauded for his professional achievements and contributions to the legal practice in Nevada. Robert Eglet, a former law partner, mourned the impact of the tragedy, reflecting on the loss felt across the profession and community. He said Prince was ‘one of the best trial lawyers in the state.’
In 2016, Prince earned the distinction of Nevada Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Nevada Justice Association, having brought more than 100 cases to verdict before a jury.
GGRM Law Firm, which specializes in personal injury and operates out of Winchester, issued a formal communication following the announcement of the tragic passing of the couple.
“Our respected peer, Dennis Prince, alongside his wife, Ashley, was tragically taken from our midst due to a violent act that has shocked and grieved us,” the firm stated.
“Ashley, by his side, consistently provided a steady stream of kindness and empathy, profoundly affecting those she encountered with her sincere care and generosity,” they added.
