A teenage participant has been taken into custody following accusations of stabbing three horses at a barrel racing competition held at a Nevada hotel over the weekend.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported responding to a call early Saturday morning, just after 2 a.m., concerning an injured horse at a barn located near the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa.
Upon arrival, officers discovered that three horses had sustained intentional injuries inflicted with a sharp object, according to the police statement.
The incident prompted the involvement of the LVMPD Animal Cruelty Section, whose investigators identified the teenage girl as a potential suspect in the alleged attacks.
The arrest took place in connection with the 2026 NBHA Professional’s Choice Las Vegas Super Show, where the teenager was scheduled to compete in barrel racing, as confirmed by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
A teenage competitor was arrested after allegedly stabbing three horses ahead of a barrel racing event at the 2026 NBHA Professional’s Choice Las Vegas Super Show in Nevada on May 30, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. (iStock)
Investigators revealed she had access to the barn the horses were being kept in, and that they believe “she may have used a knife to inflict multiple injuries to the horses.”
While the injuries to the three horses are not life-threatening, the animals were unable to compete in the 2026 National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) Professional’s Choice Las Vegas Super Show, which was held at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center over the weekend.
Three horses sustained non-life-threatening injuries and could not compete in the barrel racing event at the 2026 NBHA Professional’s Choice Las Vegas Super Show in Nevada on May 30, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. (iStock)
Following the discovery of the alleged stabbings, the teenager was located at a nearby hotel and taken into custody, police said.
She was later transported to the Clark County Juvenile Hall and charged with 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property valued at more than $5,000, police said.
An aerial view shows the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Her identity has not been released by authorities due to her age.
In a statement posted to social media, the NBHA said it “experienced an isolated incident” early Saturday, “involving the mistreatment of a limited number of equine athletes by an event competitor.”
“This situation was addressed immediately in coordination with the National Barrel Horse Association, the South Point Hotel and Security, Metro Police, and all appropriate parties,” the organization added. “The individual involved has been removed and placed in the care of authorities, and there is no ongoing threat of any kind.”
News Agency reached out to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, NBHA and South Point Hotel Casino & Spa for comment.
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