What was supposed to be a high-energy cheer weekend in Las Vegas ended in heartbreak.
Police say a mother fatally shot her preteen daughter inside a room at the Rio Hotel & Casino before turning the gun on herself in what authorities are investigating as a murder-suicide.
The devastating discovery was made Sunday morning after the pair failed to show up for a scheduled cheer competition.
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers first responded to the hotel around 10:45 a.m. Sunday after someone requested a welfare check.
Police knocked on the door several times but initially got no response and left.
Hours later, after family members pushed for another check, officers returned. That’s when they made the tragic discovery inside the room. Authorities say a note was found at the scene, though they have not released details about its contents.
Investigators believe the mother, described as being in her 30s, shot her daughter late Saturday before taking her own life. Detectives are still working to piece together a timeline.
It remains unclear whether anyone in the hotel reported hearing gunfire.
The mother and daughter had traveled to Las Vegas for a cheer competition. Earlier, Utah Xtreme Cheer shared a desperate message online saying one of their athletes and her mother had gone missing ahead of the event.
Soon after police confirmed the deaths, the team announced that the young cheerleader had “passed away.”
“With the heaviest hearts, we share the devastating news that our sweet athlete Addi has passed away,” the team wrote in a statement. “We are completely heartbroken. No words do the situation justice. She was so beyond loved, and she will always be a part of the UXC family.”
Friends and teammates described her as vibrant and deeply loved.
Homicide detectives continue to investigate. Authorities have not released further details about what may have led to the shooting.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through both the cheer community and the families who gathered in Las Vegas for what was meant to be a weekend of celebration and competition.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7.
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