Crime
Uber driver killed in road rage shooting on Las Vegas Strip identified as 50-year-old Michael Wilmot
Authorities have identified the Uber driver killed in a road rage shooting Monday near the Palazzo on the Las Vegas Strip as 50-year-old Michael Wilmot, a resident of Las Vegas.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office confirmed Wilmot’s identity and stated that his death was caused by a gunshot wound to the torso.
The incident unfolded during the late afternoon in what police described as a heated road rage altercation that spanned approximately a quarter-mile.
According to Lieutenant Jason Johansson of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Section, Wilmot, who was driving a Jeep Cherokee with two passengers onboard, exited his vehicle and approached a Subaru driven by a woman in her 20s.
Witnesses reported that Wilmot banged on the driver’s side window of the Subaru.
During the confrontation, the woman inside the Subaru shot Wilmot. Police stated that Wilmot had a firearm and appeared to reach for it after being shot but collapsed before he could use it.
The shooting occurred around 4:04 p.m. near the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Palazzo Drive.
The woman fled the scene, but authorities tracked her down using the Subaru’s license plate, locating the vehicle’s registered address.
She was subsequently taken into custody on charges unrelated to the shooting. Her name has not been released as the case has been submitted to the district attorney’s office for a self-defense review.
Lt. Johansson emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, and authorities are examining all aspects of the incident.
Meanwhile, Wilmot’s death marks another tragic instance of escalating road rage, highlighting broader public safety concerns.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that one individual, identified as Brian Young, died following a shooting that occurred in the parking lot of Lakeview Mall on Thursday night.
Captain Brian Leer stated that the altercation stemmed from a disagreement inside Jake’s Bar and Grill, located near the mall. The disagreement escalated and culminated in the fatal shooting in the parking lot.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene before 9:50 p.m., and the victim was transported to a hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office has not confirmed whether any suspects are currently in custody.
Law enforcement officers established a large crime scene in the mall’s parking lot, located in the 5600 block of Clark Lane.
Crime scene tape cordoned off a significant portion of the area as investigators combed through the site with flashlights.
A visible law enforcement presence included Boone County deputies, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers, Columbia police officers, and Boone County firefighters. Witnesses reported that patrons inside Jake’s Bar and Grill were instructed to remain indoors while the investigation was underway.
At approximately 10:20 p.m., patrons were still present at the bar as investigators worked outside. By 10:34 p.m., deputies began removing crime scene tape, and several evidence boxes were loaded into the back of a patrol vehicle.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident and is seeking assistance from the public. Anyone with information regarding the events leading up to the shooting is encouraged to contact the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.
Further details, including potential suspects and a motive, are expected to be released as the investigation progresses.