A man was arrested on Sunday at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas for allegedly shooting a homemade flamethrower at the casino’s staff and property.
In one of the more bizarre stories of the year so far, even for the often-outlandish Las Vegas Strip, Gavin Hamilton, 26, was subsequently arrested and charged with arson, assault with a deadly weapon, and drug possession.
The police report said Hamilton built a flamethrower from plastic hose tubing, a bottle of butane in a backpack, and parts from various drug pipes.
Staff said they found him in a stairwell in the resort’s hotel tower, attempting to access a locked door. When they approached him, he allegedly blasted the flamethrower in their direction and then at the door. He later told police he was trying to open the door by setting off the building’s automatic sprinklers.
Nobody was injured during the incident. A police counterterrorism team was called and Hamilton surrendered without resistance. He failed to appear in court on Wednesday for unreported reasons, and remains in custody.
The Incident
Fontainebleau Las Vegas is the newest mega casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip. It cost $3.7 billion and took 18 years to complete the long-delayed build before its December 2023 opening. It recently completed several additions to its poolside casino gaming area.
On Sunday, September 1, staff were called to a triggering of the 63-story Fontainebleau hotel tower’s automated sprinkler systems. Maintenance workers found Hamilton in a stairwell covered in a black oily substance, the police report said. He had tubing connected to his backpack, and was hammering at a locked security door.
When staff approached him, he allegedly turned around and used a lighter to ignite a stream of liquid from the end of the piping, shooting flames in their direction.
The staff backed off and called the police. Hamilton then allegedly tried to shoot the homemade flamethrower at the door. The police report said it was an unsuccessful attempt to bypass the security systems through the automatic fire protocols.
A counter terrorist police unit locked down the tower for an hour before entering and apprehending Hamilton. The police report said he gave Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers details of his flamethrowing device and how he came to be in the stairwell.
He claimed he was running from two people in the stairwell, and that was why he was trying to escape through the door. Officers found no evidence of anyone else in the vicinity except the casino staff.
Police said Hamilton told them his flamethrower device was constructed from a bottle of butane, a three-foot-long hose, and parts from a marijuana bong and methamphetamine pipe, all assembled in his backpack.
He also revealed he was a booked guest at the property, which the police report said was later confirmed by staff.
The Legal Proceedings
Although no one was harmed, Hamilton was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, as well as arson and drug possession.
Arson of any degree in Nevada is punishable by a minimum of one year in prison. Assault with a deadly weapon carries up to 15 years of incarceration. It is not clear what drugs charges Hamilton may face.
Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Amy Ferreira set Hamilton’s bail at $34,000 during a Monday, September 2 court hearing in his absence. He remains in custody as of this writing.
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.
