LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Las Vegas Metropolitan Police identified the man accused of opening fire inside a Las Vegas gym on Friday.
Daniel Ortega, 34, is accused of killing a longtime Las Vegas Athletic Club employee and injuring at least three other people. Police shot Ortega as he was exiting the gym after his gun jammed.
“Fortunately, [Ortega] had a malfunction in his weapon which saved this from becoming a mass casualty event,” Assistant Sheriff Jamie Prosser stated during a news briefing Monday.
LVMPD said they saw the gunman through the windows and were able to engage with him.
“When officers arrived, he had not been shooting. Had he been, they would have pushed through those doors and engaged him,” Prosser said. “When they came up to the window as you can see, they were able to see him through the window and our officer was able to take that shot.”
Police said Ortega was also carrying extra ammunition and magazines on him when the shooting took place.
Ortega is a North Las Vegas resident and according to police, was a member of the gym.
According to public records, Ortega was previously accused of a DUI and trafficking of a controlled substance. North Las Vegas jail records show he was facing those charges in 2013. Ortega served community service on the drug charge, according to court records.
The DUI charge was eventually dropped, court records show.
Ortega didn’t have a declared political party, records show.
Police said there is no known connection between the suspect and the victim who died. LVMPD said they are aware of a speculation to the motive, but said they are still investigating.
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