You walk into a headline that jolts the everyday: a mother shot her pre-teen daughter and then herself in a Las Vegas hotel room while in town for a cheer competition. Police say the incident unfolded at the Rio Hotel & Casino and is being investigated as an apparent murder‑suicide, leaving guests and staff stunned and a Utah cheer community mourning.
The post will unpack what investigators have reported about the scene, the timeline of events, and how authorities discovered the victims. It will also explore the ripple effects on the Utah cheer program and the questions families and officials now face as the probe continues.
What Happened Inside the Las Vegas Hotel Room
Two people were found dead in a hotel room after multiple calls and welfare checks. Authorities say the scene appears to be a murder‑suicide involving a mother and her preteen daughter.
Timeline of the Incident
Officers received a welfare check around 10:45 a.m. Sunday after family and friends raised concerns about the mother and child. Police knocked and called into the Rio room for more than 15 minutes but heard no response, then left after notifying hotel security.
Hotel security returned about 2:30 p.m. when additional loved ones continued trying to locate them. After repeated knocks and no answer, security entered and discovered both individuals unresponsive with apparent gunshot wounds. Metro Lt. Robert Price told reporters the mother likely shot the daughter before turning the weapon on herself.
Investigators note there were no reports of gunfire heard by neighboring rooms and that a note was found in the room; police have not publicly detailed its contents.
Discovery by Hotel Security and Police
Initial police attempts did not force entry because officers had no immediate evidence of a crime or audible disturbance. Security at the Rio then escalated the response after additional calls from worried relatives and social‑media posts looking for the pair.
Security entered the room around mid‑afternoon and immediately summoned LVMPD homicide detectives when they found the bodies. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department personnel secured the scene, documented evidence, and treated it as an apparent murder‑suicide while they continued interviews and forensic work.
Police confirmed the investigation remained active and that detectives were following leads on motive and origin of travel. The LVMPD emphasized the scene required careful processing because of the presence of a firearm and a written note.
Victim Identities: Tawnia McGeehan and Addi Smith
Police identified the victims as a mother in her mid‑30s, reported in local coverage as Tawnia McGeehan, and her preteen daughter, named in community posts and news reports as Addi Smith. Both had traveled to Las Vegas for a dance or cheer competition, according to statements from officers.
Local cheer groups and former teammates posted tributes and confirmed the girl’s participation in Utah‑based programs. Family members notified authorities when the pair failed to return or check in, which prompted the welfare checks that led to discovery of the scene.
The LVMPD has not released detailed personal history, and detectives have withheld specifics about the note and motive pending further investigation and notification of next of kin.
Location: Rio Hotel & Casino, 3700 W. Flamingo Road
The incident occurred inside a guest room at the Rio All‑Suites Hotel & Casino, located at 3700 W. Flamingo Road, an off‑Strip resort popular with groups traveling for competitions and conventions. The room’s location near common corridors and other occupied units prompted immediate concern from neighboring guests but reportedly produced no audible shots.
Hotel security protocols brought staff to the door after receiving escalating welfare concerns; their entry led to the discovery. LVMPD homicide units processed the room and worked with hotel management to review footage, access logs, and staff interactions to build a timeline.
Management and police asked guests to avoid the area while investigators worked. The venue later cooperated with LVMPD inquiries into how the pair checked in and who, if anyone, had recent contact with them.
Impact on the Utah Cheer Community and Ongoing Investigation
The incident stunned teammates, coaches, and event staff and prompted immediate outreach, grief resources, and a police homicide inquiry. Local leaders and the competition organizers moved quickly to support those directly affected while law enforcement continued evidence collection.
Utah Xtreme Cheer’s Response
Utah Xtreme Cheer identified the athlete as Addi and posted a brief, emotional statement expressing heartbreak and asking for privacy for the family. The program canceled scheduled activities for some teams and arranged on-site counseling at upcoming practices to help coaches and athletes process the loss.
Club leaders coordinated with the JAMZ competition organizers and hotel personnel to notify families and to offer travel assistance for any teammates who wished to attend memorials. Coaches set up a private memorial page and shared guidance to parents on talking to children about traumatic events.
Community Support and Tributes
Teammates, rival gyms, and local sports organizations posted condolences across social media and organized fundraising efforts to help with funeral costs and immediate family needs. Parents within the Utah cheer community circulated phone trees and hosted small gatherings so young athletes could grieve with trusted adults.
Several coaches urged clubs to check in with athletes showing signs of distress and to limit exposure to graphic details. Regional gyms announced minutes of silence at upcoming meets and offered to cover travel or entry fees for teammates who wanted to honor Addi at memorials.
Police Probe and Updates
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department homicide detectives treated the scene at the Rio Hotel & Casino as an active murder-suicide investigation. LVMPD confirmed officers responded to multiple welfare-check requests before hotel security discovered the victims and that investigators recovered a note in the room during the initial examination.
Detectives have not released full details about motive or the note’s contents; they continue to process forensic evidence and interview witnesses, including family members and hotel staff. LVMPD said additional information will be released when available, and officials encouraged anyone with relevant tips to contact their homicide unit.
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