LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Feb. 16, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — A mother and daughter in Las Vegas for a cheerleading competition were found deceased Sunday after what detectives are calling a murder-suicide.
Las Vegas Metro Police Detective Robert Price said at a news conference that the preteen girl and mother in her 30s were found dead from gunshot wounds.
“It appears that the mother and daughter came here for a dance competition or a cheer competition sometime last night, the mother shot her daughter and then shot herself,” Price said Sunday night.
“This is a sad and tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the family.”
The LVMPD has not publicly confirmed the identities of the victims, but a West Jordan-based cheerleading organization has said the girl was one of their students. The organization had earlier released a poster saying the mother and daughter were missing, and asking for help locating them.
Gephardt Daily is withholding the first name the poster shared until details can be confirmed.
Price said a call for a welfare check for the mother and daughter came to police at about 10:45 a.m. Sunday, and police officers and medical security went to their hotel room, at the Rio Hotel & Casino, at 3700 W. Flamingo Road.
“They knocked several times, and they called into the room without any answer at that point in time, without anything else and no other information and nothing else suspicious, those officers advised security, and they cleared the call.
“Security continued to get information from family and friends, asking them to attempt to locate the mother and daughter inside the casino.
“At approximately 2:30 in the afternoon, security went back up to the room to attempt to locate the mother and child again. They knocked several times. They also called into the room without success. At that point in time, security decided to make entry into the room, where, when they entered the room, they located two deceased females.”
Police secured the scene, and homicide detectives were called in. Price confirmed a note was left behind, but did not disclose the contents.
“It’s sad,” he said of the case. “Anytime you’re dealing with any type of child death, I mean, it’s sad. It’s a tragedy. Like I said, our hearts go out to the family.”
Gephardt Daily will share additional information as it is released.
● If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, including prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones. To speak with a trained listener, call 988.
The Crisis TEXT Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To contact a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is also free, available 24/7, and confidential.
Talking with someone about your thoughts and feelings can save your life.
