As the police respond to the hostage situation, furniture is thrown out of the window of Caesar’s palace
The suspect in a dramatic hostage situation at Las Vegas’ famed Caesars Palace Hotel has been identified as wanted fugitive Matthew Mannix.
An incident report revealed Mr Mannix had an outstanding arrest warrant in his home state of Colorado before he allegedly took a woman hostage in a hotel room on Tuesday morning.
The report said both Mr Mannix and the woman, who was not named but was described as having had an occasional relationship with her alleged kidnapper, were suspected of suffering from “drug-induced schizophrenia”.
A SWAT agency standoff ensued after Mr Mannix allegedly forced the woman into his room before threatening to “shoot anyone” if they entered. Video from outside the sprawling resort showed objects being thrown out of a broken window.
Mr Mannix was taken into custody around five hours later.
The incident briefly sparked fears of another mass shooting on the Strip after a gunman killed 58 people in his Las Vegas hotel room in 2017.
IN PICTURES: Alleged hostage-taker appears in court on Wednesday
Matthew John Ermond Mannix, 35, was arrested after being accused of holding a woman hostage for more than five hours on Tuesday
(AP)
According to his police arrest report, he allegedly claimed to be in possession of a gun
(AP)
Mr. Mannix appeared in court during his first appearance at the Regional Justice Center on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 in Las Vegas
(AP)
Andrea BlancoJuly 12, 2023 11:40 p.m
Who is alleged hostage-taker Matthew Mannix?
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the suspect in a hostage situation at Caesars Palace has been identified as 35-year-old fugitive Matthew Mannix.
A probable cause affidavit obtained from The Independent revealed Mr Mannix was suffering from “drug-induced” schizophrenia when he allegedly held a 26-year-old woman hostage in a 21st-floor room at the resort on Tuesday.
Las Vegas Police also said that Mr. Mannix is wanted in Colorado and has four protection orders against him.
(LVMPD)
Andrea BlancoJuly 13, 2023 03:00
As the police respond to the hostage situation, furniture is thrown out of the window of Caesar’s palace
As the police respond to the hostage situation, furniture is thrown out of the window of Caesar’s palace
Andrea BlancoJuly 13, 2023 1:30 am
Hostage victim has ‘cuts and bruises on legs’
The victim told law enforcement that she was afraid to leave the room because Mr Mannix had a knife with him and she thought he would eventually throw her out the broken window.
According to the incident report, Mr. Mannix and the victim previously knew each other and led a “transient lifestyle” on the Las Vegas Strip and used drugs for several days.
When crisis negotiators spoke to Mr Mannix, he is said to have spoken out about the woman and threatened to “cut her tongue out of her mouth” to keep her from talking to law enforcement.
The victim also had cuts and bruises on her legs, some of which may have been caused by beatings, police said.
Andrea BlancoJuly 13, 2023 00:00
ICYMI: Las Vegas SWAT team capture man held hostage after tense altercation in Caesars Palace hotel room
“SWAT entered the hotel room and took the individual into custody,” the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement on Twitter Tuesday. “The woman who was also in the room is safe and with officers.”
Check out our full story for all the details.
Andrea BlancoJuly 12, 2023 10:20 p.m
A bystander describes the terror at Caesars Palace when the attacker threw furniture out the window
Alyssa Hellman, a real estate agent from North Carolina, narrated The Independent She was with her wife by the pool at Caesars Palace around 1.30pm when she heard a loud bang.
She said she looked up and saw that around the 10th floor, a window had been broken and a man inside had started throwing furniture into the hall.
“We heard a bang and then one of the windows was broken open and the guy threw things out. Lamps, a TV and a minibar. He’s drawn the curtain now,” Ms. Hellman said.
Ms Hellman said guests had been evacuated from the pool area but staff had not explained what was going on.
The couple had retreated to a safe distance and said everyone around them seemed “pretty calm and content”.
“We’re a bit hidden, closer to the Bellagio,” she said.
Andrea BlancoJuly 12, 2023 9:40 p.m
Hostage-takers at Caesars Palace named as fugitive Matthew Mannix
A probable cause affidavit obtained from The Independent revealed Mr Mannix was said to be suffering from “drug-induced schizophrenia”.
Andrea BlancoJuly 12, 2023 21:02
WATCH: Furniture thrown out window of Ceasars palace as police respond to hostage crisis
As the police respond to the hostage situation, furniture is thrown out of the window of Caesar’s palace
Andrea BlancoJuly 12, 2023 8:43 p.m
Las Vegas police say Mr Mannix is wanted in Colorado
Las Vegas Police also said that Mr. Mannix is wanted in Colorado and has four protection orders against him.
He is due to appear in court on Wednesday evening.
(LVMPD)
Andrea BlancoJuly 12, 2023 20:23
The suspect threatened to “shoot someone” if police tried to enter the room.
As security forces approached the room, they reportedly found a man believed to be Mr Mannix barricaded inside, threatening to “shoot anyone” if police tried to enter the room . The threats continued and at one point a woman yelled that the man “had a knife”.
Las Vegas police, a SWAT team and medical personnel arrived at the scene to deal with the kidnapping. Mr Mannix reportedly refused to let the 26-year-old woman out of the room and continued to open and close the door while allegedly threatening to “pull the trigger”.
The woman eventually attempted to reach the door, but Mr Mannix then allegedly dragged her towards the bed “while pounding her with his body…and began having intercourse with her”.
Andrea BlancoJuly 12, 2023 20:03