The injuries are fortunately not considered life-threatening, with all three horses now recovering following treatment.
“On May 30, 2026, at approximately 2:07 am, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Communications received a report that a horse had been injured at a barn located in the 9700 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard. Patrol officers arrived and learned that three horses had been intentionally injured with a sharp object,” notes the official LVMPD statement.
“The LVMPD Animal Cruelty Section was notified and responded to the scene. Through the course of the investigation, detectives identified a teenage girl as a possible suspect. The teen had access to the barn, and investigators believe she may have used a knife to inflict multiple injuries to the horses. While the injuries are not considered life-threatening, they are expected to prevent the horses from competing.
“Detectives located the teen at a nearby hotel and took her into custody without incident. She was transported to Clark County Juvenile Hall, where she was booked for 12 counts of Willful/Malicious Kill/Maim/Torture Animal – Horse and three counts of Felony Malicious Destruction of Private Property over $5K.”
The National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) also released a statement regarding the incident:
“The 2026 NBHA Professional’s Choice Vegas Super Show, held May 29-31 at the South Point Casino in Las Vegas, experienced an isolated incident during the early morning hours of Saturday, May 30, involving mistreatment of a limited number of equine athletes by an event competitor.
“The situation was addressed immediately in coordination with the National Barrel Horse Association, the South Point Hotel & Casino Security, Metro Police and all appropriate parties. The individual involved has been removed and placed in the care of authorities, and there is no ongoing threat of any kind.
“We ask for respect and consideration for all involved during this sensitive time.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
