A Haunted Weekend at the Troubled Circus Circus Hotel
Unfounded Fear of a Shooter Incident Prompts Evacuation at Circus Circus
The weekend was anything but fun for guests at the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, whose hysteria was sparked by a false shooter alarm that sent everyone into a frenzy.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) received a call about potential gunfire at the property at 5:40pm on Saturday. However, the LVMPD later announced on X that the reports were "unfounded."
Despite the lack of victims or verified gunfire, the LVMPD evacuated the property "out of an abundance of caution." This decision led to mass panic among guests, who described the scene as chaotic and terrifying.
Mayhem on the Strip
The LVMPD later released a statement revealing that the initial confusion was due to a fight inside the casino, which escalated into multiple fights and caused the mass panic.
While gunfire was never confirmed, the incident only added fuel to the fire, given the hotel's less-than-stellar reputation for violent crimes. For instance, in 2018, a double fatal stabbing occurred at the hotel, and in more recent times, four people were shot and injured.
The terrified guests' responses to the incident speak volumes. One guest, Shahiera Langendam, said people were crying, yelling, and trying to flee the property. "This was actually the most scariest thing I have ever experienced," she stated.
Only Guests Allowed In
One lucky pair of guests happened to be visiting another Strip property when the incident occurred. Andrew Cannezzaro and his girlfriend returned to their hotel around 6:30pm, only to find a "wall" of LVMPD officers outside Circus Circus. "We could tell we weren't going to get in . . .People were saying there was a shooter," Cannezzaro recounted.
Thankfully for them, Circus Circus allowed guests back into their rooms around 8pm. However, those who couldn't prove they were guests were turned away.
The Dark History of Circus Circus
Circus Circus, notorious for its violent past, has been connected to organized crime, unexplained deaths, and paranormal activity. Engrossing ghost tour narratives often mention "tragic homicides" and a "cursed" atmosphere tied to its origins in 1968[3][4].
Although the exact details of these incidents remain elusive, the hotel's reputation for violence lives on. Most recently, a man was convicted in 2025 for the 2019 murders of two Vietnamese tourists in their hotel room at Circus Circus[1][2].
In the face of their latest brush with violence, it's no surprise that guests fled Circus Circus "in fear of their lives." As for whether the hotel's dark past played a role in the guests' fear, only they can answer that. But one thing is certain - for better or worse, Circus Circus is a place that never leaves you indifferent.
- Despite the initial reports of gunfire at Circus Circus Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas being unfounded, the eyewitness accounts of altercations inside the casino escalating into chaos and mass panic made the weekend an unsettling one.
- The LVMPD's decision to evacuate the casino-and-gambling property due to multiple fights was likely sparked by the hotel's dark history of violent crimes, further heightening the terrifying atmosphere for guests.
- Fortunately, one eyewitness pair, Andrew Cannezzaro and his girlfriend, were away at another Strip property during the altercations, allowing them to return to their hotel later that evening without consequence.
- For those who have experienced the entertainment offered by Circus Circus, the weekend's events serve as a grim reminder of its haunted past and the unsettling atmosphere that continues to permeate the storied Las Vegas establishment.
