Chaos on the Strip: Circus Circus Evacuation
Mass Evacuation at Circus Circus Due to False Report of Gunman
Saturday saw a flurry of panic at the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, all thanks to a false shooter alarm. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) received initial reports of gunfire, leading to an evacuation of the property.
In a series of updates, the LVMPD shared that the initial reports of shots fired were unfounded, stating that the chaos was actually based on a fight inside Circus Circus that caused multiple altercations, eventually leading to mass panic.
A Scenario Out of a Nightmare
The LVMPD, with a history of dealing with such situations, took precautions and evacuated the property out of an abundance of caution, despite there being no verified reports of victims or gunshots. The hysteria was palpable, with the hotel turning into a scene reminiscent of mass chaos.
Circus Circus, known for its checkered past, has been the scene of several violent crimes in the past. A double fatal stabbing in 2018 and a shooting incident that resulted in four injured individuals only serve to paint a concerning picture.
Despite whether or not the hotel's troubled past was on the minds of the guests on Saturday, they certainly acted on their fears. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, guests ran for their lives in fear, with one guest, Shahiera Langendam, stating, "This was actually the most scariest thing I have ever experienced."
Langendam recalled hearing stories about people possibly being stabbed or shot and even claims to have heard gunfire.
By the Rules of the Game
A pair of Circus Circus guests, having been at another Strip property at the time of the incident, found their return to their hotel thwarted by a wall of LVMPD officers outside their hotel. Andrew Cannezzaro and his girlfriend were told they weren't going to make it in, with people stating there was a shooter.
The guests were eventually allowed back into their rooms around 8pm, provided they could prove they were guests of the property. Those unable to do so were denied reentry.
Circus Circus has struggled to shake off its violent past and maintain its intended family-friendly atmosphere. Although it saw its beginnings as a family-oriented venue, its reputation as one of the less desirable hotels in Las Vegas persists, marked by a history of violent incidents and overall condition.
- The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), who have dealt with similar scenarios in the past, evacuated the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino following initial reports of gunfire, even though the reports turned out to be false and based on altercations within the casino.
- On Saturday, the cinema of chaos at Circus Circus, known for its checkered past, was reminiscent of general news stories covering crime and justice, with one eyewitness, Shahiera Langendam, describing it as the scariest thing she had ever experienced.
- Despite the LVMPD's precautions, guests of Circus Circus, who were seemingly affected by the casino's troubled history, ran for their lives in fear, with some claiming to have heard gunfire or stories about people being stabbed or shot.
- Andrew Cannezzaro and his girlfriend, who were at another Strip property during the incident, were initially not allowed to reenter the Circus Circus due to the LVMPD's security measures, as the casino continues to struggle to maintain its family-friendly atmosphere amidst its casino-and-gambling culture and history of crime and violence.
- The Circus Circus Hotel and Casino, which has seen numerous violent incidents in the past such as a double fatal stabbing and a shooting that resulted in four injured individuals, remains a property of concern, with its reputation tainted by crime and justice issues and an overall condition that does not align with its intended family-friendly image.
