In a shocking incident over the weekend, a teenage girl is accused of stabbing three horses during a national barrel racing event in Las Vegas. The unsettling episode unfolded at the South Point Casino, where authorities said the incident took place shortly after 2 a.m. on Saturday.
Upon arrival, officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department found that the animals had been deliberately wounded with a sharp instrument. These injuries occurred as preparations were underway for the 2026 National Barrel Horse Association Professional’s Choice Las Vegas Super Show, a prominent event in the barrel racing calendar.
Investigators quickly honed in on a teenage girl as a potential suspect. The young girl reportedly had access to the barn where the horses, now unable to compete, were housed. While the authorities have not released her name, they suspect she may have used a knife to cause the injuries.
Fortunately, the police have indicated that the wounds, though serious enough to sideline the horses from competition, are not deemed life-threatening. However, the incident has cast a shadow over the event, leaving participants and attendees alike in a state of disbelief.
“While the injuries are not considered life-threatening, they are expected to prevent the horses from competing,” cops wrote in a statement.
The teen was arrested at a nearby hotel and taken to Clark County Juvenile Hall, where she was booked on 12 counts of willful animal torture and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property over $5,000.
The NBHA confirmed in a statement that the incident involved “a limited number of equine athletes” at the venue, which hosted the barrel racing show from Friday through Sunday.
“The situation was addressed immediately in coordination with the National Barrel Horse Association, the South Point Hotel & Casino Security, Metro Police, and all appropriate parties,” the association said.
“The individual involved has been removed and placed in the care of authorities, and there is no ongoing threat of any kind.”
Investigators have not released a possible motive for the horse stabbing.