Full Breakdown
Nevada Transgender Suspect Arrested with Massive Weapons Cache After Threatening Mass Shooting
7/3/2026, 5:32:26 AM
Arrest and Immediate Threat Assessment
On June 27, 2026, Henderson police responded to a 911 call from Julie Howlett reporting that her spouse, Allison Howlett (36), had stolen a vehicle, brandished a firearm, and threatened “suicide by cop” and a mass shooting. Using vehicle-tracking technology, officers located the stolen SUV in the Sunset Station casino garage in Henderson, Nevada. The suspect played loud music, refused repeated commands, and requested water; officers used the moment to taser Howlett and remove her from the vehicle. A subsequent search of the SUV uncovered 22 firearms, suppressors, high-capacity magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Prior Threats and Context
Investigators presented an audio recording from 2024 in which Howlett warned, “If the FBI doesn’t come … arrest me, there’s gonna be a massacre.” Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren linked the threat to the 2017 Route 91 Harvest festival shooting, emphasizing heightened vigilance for any indication of a planned attack in Las Vegas.
Key Individuals and Agencies
- Allison Howlett – transgender suspect, identified as female in police statements, listed as male in booking records.
- Julie Howlett – former spouse, gun-dealer, reported the incident.
- Reggie Rader – Henderson Police Chief.
- Dori Koren – Assistant Sheriff, Southern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Center.
- Andrew Walsh – Undersheriff, Las Vegas Metro Police Department.
- Agencies involved: Henderson Police Department, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, FBI Las Vegas Field Office.
Timeline of Key Events
- June 27 – 911 call; arrest of Howlett; seizure of weapons from vehicle.
- June 27–28 – Search warrant at Howlett’s Henderson residence yields 30 additional firearms and thousands of rounds.
- July 1 – Bail hearing; judge sets bail at $500,000.
- July 15 – Preliminary hearing scheduled.
Weapons Cache Overview
Police recovered a total of 55 firearms (22 from the vehicle, 30 from the residence, plus additional items reported in some accounts). The cache included handguns, rifles, a fully automatic MP5-style submachine gun, an M2 .50-caliber machine gun, two Colt AR-style rifles equipped with M203 grenade launchers, seven suppressors, and high-capacity magazines.
Official Law Enforcement Statements
Chief Rader emphasized the suspect’s access to a “fully automatic, silenced MP5-style machine gun” and the corroboration of suicide-by-cop threats. Assistant Sheriff Koren noted that threats of an “active shooter” are taken “very seriously” given the community’s history. Undersheriff Walsh warned that “the time from thought to act — that window has closed,” highlighting rapid escalation potential.
Criticism, Denials, and Opposition
Howlett denied planning any mass shooting, claiming the weapons belonged to Julie Howlett, who operates as a gun dealer, and alleging that false accusations were spread on Discord. She also asserted that “everyone is out to get her and are setting her up.”
On-the-Ground Accounts
Julie Howlett told local reporters that Howlett entered the home with a gun, attempted to shoot her, and that she wrestled the firearm away, later unloading it. She also reported unauthorized use of her credit card by Howlett.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
- Weapon totals differ: some sources cite 52 firearms (22 + 30), others 55.
- Ownership is disputed; Julie claims the firearms were her inventory, while police continue to investigate legal possession.
- Gender identification varies: police use female pronouns, booking records list male.
- Motivation remains unclear; Howlett’s recorded threats contrast with her denial of intent.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It should be noted that the suspect had been sitting on a handgun and had access to a fully automatic, silenced MP5-style machine gun in the back seat of the vehicle, further corroborating the reported threats of suicide by cop and having the means to carry out a mass shooting,” — Reggie Rader, Henderson Police Chief
- “Some of that information included the threat of wanting to become an active shooter or to conduct a mass attack here in Las Vegas,” — Dori Koren, Assistant Sheriff
- “The time from thought to act — that window has closed,” — Andrew Walsh, Undersheriff, LVMPD
- “I swear to God, if the FBI doesn’t come f*ing arrest me, there’s gonna be a f*ing mass shooting,” — Recorded statement attributed to Allison Howlett
- “She was going to kill me,” — Julie Howlett, former spouse
Next Legal Steps
Howlett remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center. The $500,000 bail is in effect, and a preliminary hearing is set for July 15, where prosecutors will address the 35 criminal counts, including terrorism-related threats and multiple weapons offenses. The investigation continues to determine the source of the firearms and the motive behind the alleged threats.
