It was just another Monday morning in Summerlin. The sun was hitting the glass of the office buildings on Charleston Boulevard, and inside the Prince Law Group, a group of high-powered attorneys were settling in for what they thought would be a standard, albeit tense, deposition. Then, the world stopped.
Joe Houston Las Vegas is a name that, until April 2024, belonged to a veteran attorney with fifty years of experience in the Nevada bar. Now, it’s a name synonymous with one of the most shocking acts of violence in the history of the American legal system.
When people search for information on this case, they aren’t just looking for a news blurb. They’re trying to understand how a 77-year-old grandfather and respected lawyer could walk into a fifth-floor conference room and execute two people before ending his own life. Honestly, the details are more disturbing than the headlines suggest.
The Morning of the Shooting
On April 8, 2024, seven people were gathered in that room. Among them were Dennis Prince, 57, a titan of the Las Vegas legal community, and his wife, Ashley Prince, 30. They were there to depose Joe Houston’s wife, Katherine, as part of a brutal, multi-year custody battle.
Joe Houston was representing his son, Dylan. Dennis was representing his wife, Ashley.
📖 Related: Whos Winning The Election Rn Polls: The January 2026 Reality Check
It was family against family.
According to witnesses like attorney Lisa Rasmussen, who was sitting just inches away from Houston, there were no red flags that morning. Houston seemed almost "jovial" while walking into the building. He was a man who had practiced law since 1974. He knew the rules. He knew the decorum.
But as soon as the questioning began, something snapped.
Only a few questions into the deposition, Houston stood up. Reports describe a "glazed and rattled" look in his eyes. He pulled out a handgun and fired. Dennis Prince was hit first, reportedly four times. Then he turned the gun on Ashley.
👉 See also: Who Has Trump Pardoned So Far: What Really Happened with the 47th President's List
The room devolved into pure chaos. A court reporter and a pregnant associate managed to flee. In the end, three people were dead: Dennis, Ashley, and Joe Houston himself.
A Custody Battle Fueled by Venom
To understand why this happened, you’ve got to look at the backstory of the custody fight between Dylan Houston and Ashley Prince. This wasn’t just a simple disagreement over weekend schedules. It was a war.
- The Catalyst: Ashley was seeking sole custody of her two children with Dylan.
- The Evidence: Just days before the shooting, Dennis Prince had sent over evidence allegedly showing Dylan drinking and driving.
- The Desperation: Ashley had even expressed concerns about her safety, asking about private security shortly before the deposition.
Basically, the tension had reached a boiling point. Joe Houston wasn’t just the lawyer; he was the grandfather of the children at the center of the storm. He was also reportedly battling terminal cancer. That’s a detail a lot of people overlook. When someone feels they have nothing left to lose, their internal "brakes" can fail completely.
The Lawsuits and the Aftermath
The story didn't end in that conference room. In early 2025, the legal fallout intensified. Ashley Prince’s parents, Paul and Julie Page, filed wrongful death lawsuits that dropped a bombshell: they allege Katherine Houston, Joe’s wife, might have had "knowledge" of the plan.
✨ Don't miss: Why the 2013 Moore Oklahoma Tornado Changed Everything We Knew About Survival
The lawsuit claims Katherine was in the room, saw the shooting, and then left without checking on the victims or speaking to her husband. It’s a heavy accusation. The suit also names Joe Houston's estate and his now-closed firm.
Meanwhile, Dylan Houston has not been named as a defendant in those specific suits, and police stated back in July 2024 that he was not a suspect in the homicides. But the fallout remains messy. The children are currently split between their maternal grandparents and their father.
Why This Case Stunned Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a big city, but the legal community is surprisingly small. Everyone knew Dennis Prince. He had tried over 90 cases to verdict and was the guy you called for high-stakes litigation. To have him killed in his own office—a place that is supposed to be a sanctuary of logic and law—shook the foundation of the local bar association.
It’s also a grim reminder of how dangerous family law can be. Emotions are higher there than in almost any other area of practice. When you add a terminal illness and a perceived threat to a family's legacy, you get a powder keg.
Actionable Insights for Legal Professionals and Families
While this was an extreme and rare event, there are takeaways for anyone involved in high-conflict litigation:
- Don't Ignore the "Nothing to Lose" Factor: If an opposing party or their counsel is facing terminal illness or extreme personal ruin, security protocols should be heightened.
- Third-Party Locations Matter: For depositions involving extreme "venom," using a neutral site with security or a courthouse can provide a layer of safety.
- Mental Health is a Professional Duty: The legal field is high-pressure. Monitoring the mental well-being of veteran attorneys is just as important as monitoring newcomers.
- Security isn't Paranoia: If a client asks for security, take it seriously. Ashley Prince’s concerns were tragically validated.
The legacy of the Joe Houston Las Vegas tragedy is one of shattered families and a legal community that will never quite feel the same. It serves as a dark chapter in Nevada's history, highlighting the point where the law ends and raw, unchecked emotion takes over.