Prior to murdering a prominent Las Vegas lawyer and his wife, a rival attorney ushered another unknown person out of the room moments before he opened fire, according to a report.
Joe Houston fatally shot Dennis and Ashley Prince during a deposition for a child custody case at the Prince Law Group office in southern Nevada Monday, before taking his own life.
Houston was representing his son, Dylan Houston, in the child custody dispute involving his ex, Ashley. The former couple shared two children together, sources said, KLAS-TV reported.
During the proceedings, Ashley was represented by her new husband, Dennis, a well-liked Las Vegas attorney.
"Shortly into the deposition, approximately three to four minutes, the suspect stood up and began opening fire on the two victims across the table from him," Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Jason Johansson said, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Johansson said the victims were "very specific targets,"and that the suspect "shooed away" another person during the shooting. Seven people, including a court reporter, were in the room at the time of the attack, he said, and they were able to call police.
Both sides were meeting Monday after Ashley filed an "emergency motion for sole custody of the minor children; and for attorneys' fees and costs," according to court records, the Review-Journal reported.
In records obtained by KLAS, Dylan is accused of using cocaine and drinking alcohol while he had custody of their children. He also allegedly sent Ashley derogatory texts.
Ashley previously filed a restraining order against him in 2022, the documents showed.
Ashley leaves behind three children, after recently welcoming a child with Dennis.
Dennis was a father of four, three of whom were from previous relationships.
