Las Vegas’ Rio Casino is Site of Suicide, AR-15-Style Rifle Found Near Victim

Posted on: February 10, 2023, 08:42h. 

Last updated on: February 10, 2023, 11:59h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

It was just confirmed that a man died by suicide last month at Las Vegas’ Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. He was found in a casino restroom. Near his body were an AR-15-style rifle and a note to police, according to a local news report.

The man was identified as Michael James Robinson, 40, and his cause of death was a gunshot to the head, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, citing a report released Thursday by the Clark County coroner’s office. The death was ruled a suicide, the coroner’s office added.

The self-inflicted gunshot occurred in a restroom located off the casino floor, close to the gaming property’s main valet entrance.

The rifle was located outside of a bathroom stall with a magazine still attached. No other weapons were found in the area.

Employee Heard Loud Bang

A gaming floor supervisor who worked near the restroom heard a “loud bang” that later was suspected to be the gunshot. The supervisor initially assumed it was just someone banging a stall door loudly that caused the noise.

But when walked into the bathroom, he discovered a “white male adult laying down on the floor inside the last handicap stall,” a police report said. The stall had been locked from the inside.

Near the body were a medium-sized suitcase and a bag, the Review-Journal reported.

It was unknown if the firearm was hidden in the suitcase or bag when it was brought into the casino. Las Vegas casino staff can ask those with firearms to leave, as casinos are private property.

The suicide note was found in the bag. It was addressed to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). Its contents were not released to the public.

Victim Acting Suspiciously

It was also revealed Robinson was walking around the casino parking lot and randomly trying to open doors in the gaming property before ending his life, the Review-Journal reported.

Michael was seen conducting suspicious activities and displaying odd behaviors as walking around in circles with what looked to be having no set destination on where he was heading to,” the LVMPD police report said. “Michael was seen going back inside the hotel heading towards the restroom by Burro Borracho at approximately 7:41 hours.”

Caesars Entertainment operates the Rio. A Caesars Entertainment spokesperson had no immediate comment on the incident.