Tragic Shooting Leaves Las Vegas Lawyer and His Wife Dead During Custody Deposition
LAS VEGAS, NV – In a shocking and senseless act of violence, a Las Vegas lawyer and his wife were fatally shot during a custody deposition hearing on Monday morning. The victims, Dennis Prince, 57, and his wife Ashley Prince, 30, were caught in the crossfire of a deadly dispute between Ashley’s ex-husband, Dylan Houston, and his cancer-stricken father, 77-year-old Joseph Houston II.
The tragic incident unfolded around 10 a.m. inside the offices of the Prince Law Group in the Summerlin area of Las Vegas. According to court documents, the deposition was part of an ongoing custody battle between Ashley Prince and her ex-husband, Dylan Houston, an attorney himself.
Just five days before the shooting, Dylan had sent an ominous email to Dennis Prince, saying “You have no idea what’s coming do you, all your cards are on the table and I haven’t played one [laughing emoji].” This message appeared to reference a surveillance report that did not cast Dennis in a positive light, according to a source familiar with the custody dispute.
Court records show that Dylan had previously been accused of testing positive for cocaine and alcohol while with the couple’s two young children, a son and daughter aged 5 and 4. The records indicate that Dylan was required to take breathalyzer tests before seeing the children.
Just hours before the deadly deposition, a judge had ordered that Ashley’s sister be awarded temporary custody of the children instead of Dylan, citing “recent acts” of Dylan’s father as a reason for the decision.
The deposition began calmly, but within five minutes, the situation took a tragic turn. According to court documents, Joseph Houston “stood up, had a very glazed and rattled look in his eyes, pulled out a handgun and shot Prince four times.” As the shots rang out, Houston appeared to spare the life of a pregnant lawyer, Shannon Wilson, who was also present in the room. Wilson “immediately ducked and hid under the conference room table,” pleading with the gunman not to harm her unborn child.
After shooting Dennis Prince, Houston then turned the gun on himself, taking his own life. Tragically, Ashley Prince was also fatally struck during the barrage of gunfire.
In the aftermath, Ashley’s lawyers filed an emergency motion requesting that sole custody of the children be given to her sister. The motion was granted, with the lawyers alleging that Dylan “knew or must have known of the intentions of his father prior to the commission of these heinous acts.” However, Dylan vehemently denied these accusations, stating that his actions were “not indicative of a co-conspirator” but rather “that of a concerned father wanting to protect, console, love and support his children.”
The Houston family released a statement expressing their profound shock and sadness, asking for prayers and privacy as they navigate the aftermath of this tragic event. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is continuing its investigation, and authorities have cautioned against speculation as the details continue to unfold.
Dennis Prince, a founding member and lead trial counsel of the Prince Law Group, was recognized as the Nevada Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2016 and had tried more than 100 cases to jury verdict. He and Ashley had recently welcomed a child together, adding to the devastating loss felt by their loved ones and the legal community.
In the wake of this senseless tragedy, the Prince Law Group expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and sympathy from the community, while the Houston family has pledged to cooperate fully with the ongoing police investigation. As the details continue to emerge, this case has left a profound impact on all those involved and the city of Las Vegas as a whole.
