LAS VEGAS — A fatal shooting at a Las Vegas gym last week claimed the life of a long-serving employee who, according to police, appeared to have no link to the perpetrator.
Edgar Quinonez, 31, of Las Vegas, was shot and killed Friday at the Las Vegas Athletic Club, police said.
The suspect, Daniel Ortega, 34 years old and a member of the gym, was shot by arriving officers as he left the facility after discharging 24 bullets, police reported. Ortega succumbed to his gunshot injuries.
The incident also left three others injured inside the gym located in the city’s west side. They were taken to nearby hospitals, with one individual reported in critical condition, though further updates were not provided on Monday.
Officials are still investigating a motive, saying they have found no connection between the two men.
Jamie Prosser, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department assistant sheriff, said at a media briefing on Monday that Ortega entered the gym with a rifle on Friday afternoon.
She said he approached an employee at the front desk and paced around before briefly exchanging words with another employee. Then he lifted the rifle and shot the employee as he fled into the gym, she said.
Ortega followed and continued firing, Prosser said, and at some point Ortega returned to the lobby and fired until the weapon malfunctioned. An arriving officer fired at Ortega when he opened the entrance door and he was shot by officers as he left the building with the rifle. He died at a nearby hospital, police said.
She said Ortega worked out at the gym but at this time there was no known connection to the victim.
