Tragedy as mum shoots daughter and then herself at Las Vegas hotel
When Tawnia McGeehan and her daughter Addi Smith failed to turn up for a cheerleading competition on the weekend, authorities in Las Vegas, Nevada, led a search for the pair. Police found Tawnia and Addi dead in their room at the Rio Hotel and Casino in the city, and also discovered a note.
Speaking to reporters about the heartbreaking case, Police Lieutenant Robert Price, of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, said: "This is a sad and tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the family." He added a motive for the killing is "still part of our investigation."
According to police, officers received a request for a welfare check just before 11am on Sunday. The police press release reads: "Patrol officers along with security personnel for the property attempted to contact the two. Officers knocked on the door and called into the room several times but did not get a response. Based on the details at the time, there was no belief that either was in danger and officers cleared."
But hotel security received additional requests to check on the mother and daughter and later entered their room around 2.27pm, per the press release. Tawnia and Addi were found unresponsive and security called 911.
Both were suffering from apparent gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Their statement continued: "Based on the preliminary evidence at the scene, detectives were able to determine the mother shot her daughter before shooting herself."
Bradley Jolly