A tragic incident occurred in Las Vegas when a lawyer and his wife were fatally shot by the woman’s former father-in-law during a deposition hearing. The victims were identified as lawyer Dennis Prince and Ashley Prince, who were both shot multiple times by 77-year-old Joseph Houston, who then took his own life. The shooting took place at Dennis Prince’s law firm, Prince Law Group, where seven people, including a court reporter, were present at the time of the incident. The couple had been embroiled in a custody battle with Ashley’s ex-husband, who was being represented by Houston in the case.
Ashley Prince’s parents spoke at a news conference, revealing that their daughter had been trying to gain sole custody of her two children from her previous marriage for years. The parents expressed their commitment to continuing Ashley’s fight to win custody of the children, ages 4 and 5, describing her as a devoted and fierce protector of her children who would never give up the fight for them. Her brother Bryce Page shared that his sister was overjoyed after meeting Dennis Prince and had achieved her dream of creating a warm and loving environment for her family after welcoming their first child together.
Dennis Prince, a prominent trial lawyer in Las Vegas for 30 years, had built a reputation as a top attorney in personal injury, product liability, negligence, and insurance cases. He was the head of Prince Law Group, where the tragic shooting took place. Prince had tried numerous cases to verdict and had multiple published state Supreme Court cases. The law group expressed deep sadness and gratitude for the outpouring of support and sympathy they received following the violent incident at their offices.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is conducting an investigation into the shooting, although they did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the family’s statement. The details of the motive behind the shooting have not been fully disclosed, but the contentious custody battle between the couple and Ashley’s ex-husband, represented by his father, appears to have been a contributing factor to the tragic events that unfolded. The community in Las Vegas and beyond has been shaken by this senseless act of violence, and the impact on the families and loved ones of the victims will be long-lasting. The legal community has also been affected by the loss of Dennis Prince, a respected and dedicated attorney who had spent decades serving his clients with passion and expertise.
