Henderson police say the Nevada weapons cache arrest on June 27 stopped what investigators allege could have become a mass-casualty attack after officers found an arsenal of firearms in a stolen SUV and at a nearby home.
What happened in the Nevada weapons cache arrest
Henderson police say Allison Howlett, 36, was arrested June 27 after a domestic-disturbance call led investigators to a stolen SUV traced to the Sunset Station casino parking garage. Officers allege they found the vehicle loaded with weapons and removed Howlett from the car; police say some force was used and a Taser deployed during the encounter.
According to Henderson police statements, officers recovered 22 firearms from the SUV on scene. Authorities say the vehicle also contained a fully automatic firearm, several suppressors and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Police told reporters they found the suspect sitting on a handgun inside the vehicle, which heightened immediate safety concerns.
Timeline (reported)
June 27 — A 911 call from a family member reportedly prompted officers to locate a stolen SUV.
Shortly after — Henderson officers traced the stolen vehicle to the Sunset Station parking garage, boxed it in and contacted the occupant.
On scene — Officers allege they recovered 22 firearms from the vehicle and arrested Allison Howlett; the encounter included a struggle in which a Taser was used.
Later that day — Police executed a search warrant at a Henderson residence and reported finding an additional 30 firearms, bringing the reported total to 52 weapons recovered in the investigation.
Weapons seized and alleged stockpile at home
Officials reported that the subsequent residence search yielded 30 more firearms, for a reported combined total of 52 weapons recovered (22 from the SUV, 30 from the home). Authorities said items seized from both locations reportedly included high-capacity magazines, seven suppressors, thousands of rounds of ammunition, a fully automatic firearm, an M2 .50-caliber machine gun and two Colt AR-style rifles fitted with M203 grenade launchers.
Investigators cautioned they are still determining which items, if any, were lawfully possessed and how the weapons were acquired. Statements from police indicate forensic testing and tracing are ongoing to establish provenance and legality of each weapon allegedly recovered.
Charges, bail and legal claims
Prosecutors have filed 35 criminal counts against Howlett, according to charging documents and police statements. Counts listed by investigators reportedly include making threats related to an act of terrorism, assault with a deadly weapon constituting domestic violence, grand larceny of a vehicle, 22 counts of grand larceny of a firearm, multiple weapons offenses and resisting an officer while armed.
A Clark County judge set bail at $500,000, court records show. Family members have disputed parts of the police account: Julie Howlett told FOX5 Las Vegas that firearms removed from the SUV were inventory for her licensed gun-dealer business and were being prepared for transport, while other reporting noted the suspect has denied planning a mass shooting during an interview with detectives. Those claims and denials remain part of the record and have not been independently verified by investigators, who say they will test and review all evidence.
Why authorities say this prompted a counterterrorism probe
Officials told reporters the case was elevated because investigators allege they recovered audio in which a person appears to make threats about a future mass attack. Authorities have described the combination of alleged threats and the cache’s size and lethality as factors that justified involving counterterrorism partners.
The Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office and local law enforcement agencies, have joined the inquiry, officials said. Police have characterized the probe as a multiagency effort to determine whether any terrorism-related statutes were violated.
Immediate public-safety context and what comes next
Investigators said they will continue forensic testing on weapons, trace serial numbers where available, review communications and audio evidence, and analyze any other material seized during the searches. Officials cautioned that additional charges could be filed depending on the outcomes of those examinations.
Local agencies have said they remain on heightened alert while the investigation proceeds. Prosecutors and police expect to present evidence to the grand jury if warranted and to schedule upcoming court appearances; defense counsel and family statements also indicated preparations for pretrial proceedings. The Clark County court calendar will list formal arraignment and future hearing dates as they are set.
Background
Officials referenced past mass-casualty events in Southern Nevada as context for why alleged threats and large weapons caches are treated with elevated concern by regional partners. Authorities say coordinated, rapid response and thorough evidence review are intended to reduce the risk to the public while ensuring legal standards are followed.
FAQ
What charges does the suspect face?
Investigators report 35 criminal counts, including alleged threats related to terrorism, weapons offenses, grand larceny counts and resisting an officer while armed. Charges reflect prosecutors’ filings and statements by law enforcement.
How many firearms were recovered and what types?
Authorities report 22 firearms discovered in the stolen SUV and 30 at a Henderson residence, for a reported total of 52 weapons. Items allegedly seized include handguns, rifles, a fully automatic firearm, an M2 .50-caliber machine gun, Colt AR-style rifles with M203 grenade launchers, suppressors and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Why did investigators treat this as a counterterrorism matter?
Officials say alleged audio threats, combined with the scope and lethality of the weapons cache, prompted involvement by the Southern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. The elevation to a counterterrorism inquiry is intended to pool federal and local resources to assess any terrorism-related conduct.
Sources: Henderson Police Department; Fox News. Additional reporting referenced FOX5 Las Vegas and KSNV as cited during press briefings and local coverage.
Original Fox News coverage: Fox News.
