Crime
Tawnia McGeehan and her preteen daughter Addi Smith found dead inside Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Authorities have confirmed that a mother and daughter from West Jordan, Utah, who were reported missing while attending a cheer competition in Las Vegas, were found deceased inside a guest room at the Rio Hotel & Casino. Investigators are treating the case as an apparent murder-suicide.
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers initially responded to a welfare check at the resort at approximately 10:45 a.m. Sunday after family members and friends reported being unable to reach the pair.
Police and hotel security personnel knocked repeatedly on the hotel room door and announced their presence but received no response.
At that time, officers cleared the scene without making entry.
Later that afternoon, at approximately 2:30 p.m., hotel security returned to the room and forcibly entered after continued attempts to make contact were unsuccessful.
Inside, security personnel discovered both individuals deceased. Patrol officers were notified, and the case was immediately turned over to homicide investigators.
Authorities later identified the victims as 35-year-old Tawnia McGeehan and her preteen daughter, Addi Smith, both of Utah.
Homicide Lt. Robert Price stated that investigators believe McGeehan fatally shot her daughter sometime Saturday night before taking her own life.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Lt. Price described the circumstances as “sad and tragic” and confirmed that a note was recovered during the investigation. However, he declined to disclose its contents or discuss a potential motive, citing the ongoing nature of the case.
The mother and daughter had traveled to Las Vegas to attend a cheer and dance competition but failed to appear Sunday morning, prompting concern from their Utah-based cheer organization, Utah Xtreme Cheer.
A missing persons flyer had circulated earlier identifying the two before authorities formally confirmed their deaths.
Utah Xtreme Cheer later issued a public statement expressing profound grief over the loss of Addi Smith, describing her as a deeply loved member of their athletic community and requesting privacy for the family during this difficult time.
The investigation remains open, and authorities have not released additional details regarding the circumstances leading up to the incident.
Law enforcement officials extended their condolences to the victims’ family, friends, and teammates as the community continues to process the tragic loss.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.