A man was arrested last weekend on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. He was nabbed on charges he fired several shots from a 9mm pistol that impacted the historic Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel.
The shooting occurred at around 5 a.m. in the tourist hotspot after a mass brawl involving some 30 people. Police arrested the alleged shooter, Daniel Porter, 42, on the scene.
Porter told police that a group of California tourists had started the fight. Police say they captured him on surveillance footage shooting in the direction of a group of four individuals running away from the scene once the brawl was mostly over. However, the shots ended up hitting only the street or Binion’s Gambling Hall. No one was injured.
Porter faces various new charges to add to his existing lengthy rap sheet. They include assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and discharging a firearm into an occupied building.
He remains in jail at Clark County Detention Center and is set to appear in court on August 21.
The Incident
Police said it is unclear what started the Saturday night fight between the two large groups of men. However, they did say they found cocaine and methamphetamine on Porter, suggesting inebriated states may have had something to do with what happened.
Porter admitted using both coke and meth an hour or so before the fight started. The fight ended when Porter allegedly discharged four shots in the loose direction of the melee and everybody scattered. Police say there were no reports of any injuries from other persons involved in the fight.
They did find four empty shell casings and two bullets, one on the street, and one lodged in a ceiling tile of the canopy of Binion’s, which had smashed glass and lights before coming to a halt.
The Alleged Shooter
Once they arrived, police were pointed in the direction of Porter by several witnesses. When they approached him, he did not deny being involved in the shooting.
They found cocaine and meth on his person, as well as the 9mm pistol they believe he used during the incident.
However, Porter did tell detectives that he enjoyed visiting Downtown Las Vegas and he was sorry for damaging the casino with the gunfire. He has since reportedly written the casino’s owners an apology letter.
The police report also noted Porter’s previous convictions, many of them on firearms-related charges. They include burglary, discharging a firearm out of a vehicle, attempted murder, and assault.
If convicted on the various charges against him over this week’s incident, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
