LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The deadly shooting at Prince Law Group in Summerlin played out in a conference room filled with other attorneys and staff members who managed to escape.
There were seven people total, including a court reporter. This included Dennis and Ashley Prince and Shannon Wilson, who is an associate with Prince Law Group. Attorney Lisa Rasmussen was representing Kelly Houston, and Joe Houston was there on behalf of his son, Dylan Houston, who was not present.
Rasmussen told FOX5 that she knew the custody deposition was going to be tense. She met up with Kelly and Joe in the parking lot and the three of them went up to the 5th floor conference room.
“He got out, he seemed fine. He didn’t seem sick or in ill health. It was a really normal meeting,” Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen recalls that when they got to the conference room, Joe suggested they all sit at a certain spot, but Dennis walked in and had them move as Dennis did not want his back facing the door.
After figuring out everyone’s seating, the deposition started.
“I think Dennis immediately said to the court reporter, ‘Please swear the witness’ and she did, she administered the oath to Kelly,” Rasmussen recalled. “And Joe said, ‘Is there any hope before we start, can we resolve any of the issues, can we ever resolve any of the issues in this case for the sake of this case?’”
According to Rasmussen, Dennis did not answer Joe’s question. The group was just three questions in when Rasmussen heard a loud noise.
“I saw a barrel and a sleeve, and I still wasn’t processing at that point. Then I recall him standing up, pointing the gun at the table and at that moment, I became clear on what was happening,” Rasmussen said.
After realizing what was about to take place, Rasmussen said she quickly grabbed Kelly and ran out.
“I don’t know where the court reporter went,” she said. “I tried to get in the double doors. They were locked. I remember pounding on them and said, ‘Somebody help us, call 911.’”
When asked what Kelly’s reaction was during this whole ordeal, Rasmussen said she kept asking, “Why would he do that?”
Rasmussen and Kelly were able to hide and call 911 but heard up to five more shots. As we now know, those shots killed Dennis and Ashley. Joe later turned the gun on himself.
She was unsure if the suspect had the killings in mind before the deposition began.
“I think the little hostilities that played out that morning may have been a trigger, I don’t know,” Rasmussen added.
“That’s the question we will never know the answer to,” she explained. “I think back on the components of it. I don’t think so, and I say that for a couple of reasons. He sent an email to Dennis a week before asking that Ashely not be there.”
Rasmussen said that the lack of information in the hours directly following the shooting was difficult.
“We didn’t get any of the information that was coming in from the media,” she said. “We were there all day. At some point, we both realized that Joe may have shot himself. We didn’t see anyone come out in custody. We didn’t see any paramedics go in.”
Rasmussen believes that the shooting may never have happened if the custody case moved faster.
“It shouldn’t have taken two years to get that,” she stated. “I think had that been done in a timely fashion as it should have been, they would have been able to go forward with that hearing.”
Ultimately, she is hoping for closure for those involved in the shooting.
“I wish in my hearts of hearts that these families can heal, and they can work together for the sake of the kids,” Rasmussen said.
Yesterday, the son of the shooter was granted visitation with his children on the condition that he surrender all of his guns to police. He will be able to see the two children for several hours every week under the supervision of his sister.
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