Gunshot Erupts During Poker Goliath Series in Planet Hollywood

Gunfire was a common occurrence during poker games in the old Wild West and it seems little has changed, with police arresting two teenagers in the Planet Hollywood Resort Hotel during the Goliath Series - one of the suspects pulling a gun during the struggle and managing to get a shot off.

Las Vegas Metro police were called to the resort just after midnight on Monday after hotel security had approached the two young men who they suspected of being underage. When police arrived, 19–year old Rayshawn Strickland and his unnamed 17-year old associate attempted to flee.

According to Metropolitan Police Department Lt. David Gordon, the younger suspect ‘tried to grab a handgun from his waistband’ during the ensuing tussle. The Las Vegas Review Journal reports that ‘While police tried to stop him from removing the gun, the suspect fired a round into the floor.’

A handgun was also found on the second suspect, Strickland, who was arrested on an outstanding fugitive warrant, according to police. He is ‘accused of carrying a concealed firearm’ the Journal reported. They added that ‘the 17-year-old minor, who was not identified because of his age, fired the gunshot and will face felony charges in juvenile court’, according to police sources.

Although no-one was injured during the incident, it was only last week that a gunman in the Philippines caused the death of 37 people while attempting to rob the Resorts World Casino, in Pasay City, Manila.

Many of the dead and injured, the majority of them women, died from smoke inhalation in their attempt to flee the casino after the armed man ‘poured fuel over tables and set them alight’ in the assault, the attacker later taking his own life using his rifle after first setting fire to himself.

There have been numerous robberies, shootings and deaths in casinos and poker-rooms over the years, the biggest cash haul coming during the 2010 EPT when brazen gunmen made off with something approaching $1million in a raid caught on CCTV.

Individual poker players have also been the targets of robbery, Greg Raymer, David Sklansky and Doyle Brunson all staring down the barrel of a gun at some point in their careers.

2004 Main Event winner Greg ‘Fossilman’ Raymer had $150,000 in cash winnings when he was accosted outside his hotel room at the Bellagio, but fought off his attackers and later wrote:

“I don’t write this to brag, I just want any robbery-minded people out there who hear about this to know that I’m a tough mark, and they won’t get that much off me even if they succeed."

Although the suspects in this week’s Planet Hollywood arrests have not been accused of planning or committing any robbery on the premises, hopefully the security around Vegas will be equally on the ball throughout the WSOP this summer as the hordes descend with full pockets on the lucrative poker venues throughout the strip.