A shooting at the Las Vegas Athletic Club on May 16, 2025, resulted in two fatalities and left three others injured, as reported by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
The event began around 1:34 p.m. at the fitness center located at 1725 North Rainbow Boulevard near Lake Mead Boulevard in northwest Las Vegas, Nevada. Officers arrived responding to reports of gunfire inside the establishment, where they confronted an armed individual at the entrance.
Police identified the suspect as 34-year-old Daniel Ortega, a gym member, who attempted to escape, leading officers to open fire. “Officers identified a suspect standing at the door armed with a firearm. The suspect ran out the door and officers discharged their firearms, striking him,” the department stated in a news release.
Ortega was quickly apprehended by law enforcement and received medical assistance. He was taken to University Medical Center where he was later declared deceased.
Inside the gym, police found one victim who had died. On May 17, the Las Vegas Athletic Club confirmed the victim as Edgar Quinonez, a 15-year employee of the fitness facility. Colleagues remembered Quinonez for his dedication and positive demeanor.
Three other individuals were injured in the shooting. One remains in critical condition, while two others have non-life-threatening injuries, according to the police. One of the injured transported themselves to the hospital.
Witness Gary Steward, 20, reported seeing the suspect enter through the front desk area and begin firing. Steward, accompanied by his friend Liam Johnson, 19, had visited a nutrition store before heading to the gym, which might have kept them from harm’s way as they would have been near the front desk during the incident.
Another witness, Claudio Vigani, who was at the gym during the shooting, recounted being instructed to evacuate immediately. Other gym-goers described chaotic scenes as individuals rushed to escape amid the gunfire.
A memorial with flowers, candles, and handwritten notes has been established outside the gym in memory of Quinonez. Staff and gym members noted that Quinonez was trying to warn others and assist them in escaping when he was shot.
A gym member and friend of Quinonez expressed his sorrow over the loss, remembering him as a kind-hearted person. Other colleagues mentioned his passion for sports, particularly the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Las Vegas Athletic Club released a statement on social media expressing their condolences and prayers. The gym remains temporarily closed while the police conduct their investigation.
Law enforcement officials have not yet determined a motive for the shooting. Undersheriff Andrew Walsh assured during a press conference that the public was no longer in danger following the incident.
This incident marks the third police-involved shooting in Las Vegas for 2025. Authorities confirmed that no officers were injured during the standoff with the suspect.
According to a witness, the suspect was armed with a long gun upon entering the facility. Initial reports suggest the attack may have been targeted, though this has not been officially confirmed by police.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances of the shooting and is examining security footage from within the gym. Management of the fitness center has stated their full cooperation with law enforcement by providing video evidence to aid in the investigation.
