A teenage girl has been arrested after three horses were allegedly stabbed at a major barrel racing competition. Authorities say the incident occurred during the 2026 National Barrel Horse Association Professional’s Choice Las Vegas Super Show at South Point Arena & Equestrian Center. Investigators believe the suspect used a sharp object to injure the animals before officers located her at a nearby hotel and took her into custody.
Vegas Police Picked Up The Suspect After Alert About The Horse Stabbing Incident
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said officers responded to a report of an injured horse shortly after 2 a.m. on Saturday, May 30. The call came from a barn located in the 9700 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard, near the South Point property.
When officers arrived, they discovered that three horses had suffered injuries from being stabbed, as investigators believed the wounds were intentionally inflicted with a sharp object. According to police, detectives from the department’s Animal Cruelty Section launched an investigation immediately.
Authorities later identified a teenage girl as a suspect. Investigators determined that she had access to the barn where the horses were being housed during the event. Police believe she may have used a knife to injure the animals.
Detectives located the suspect at a nearby hotel and transported her to Clark County Juvenile Hall. She was booked on 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming, or torturing an animal, along with three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property valued at more than $5,000. Police have not publicly released the suspect’s identity because she is a juvenile.
Horses Expected To Recover Following the South Point Incident
Although the injuries were serious enough to remove the animals from competition, authorities said the wounds are not considered life-threatening. The affected horses were scheduled to participate in the 2026 NBHA Professional’s Choice Las Vegas Super Show. However, organizers confirmed that none of the affected animals will be able to compete following the incident.
The National Barrel Horse Association addressed the matter in a statement shared on social media. Event officials said the situation was handled quickly in coordination with law enforcement, South Point security personnel, and event organizers.
“This situation was addressed immediately in coordination with the National Barrel Horse Association, the South Point Hotel & Security, Metro Police, and all appropriate parties,” the organization stated.
The association also reassured participants and spectators that the suspect had been removed from the event and that no ongoing threat remained. Barrel racing events often attract competitors from across the United States, with horses spending several days at competition facilities before taking part in races. As a result, organizers maintain strict safety procedures for both riders and animals.
The Animal Cruelty Investigation Presses On
The case remains under investigation as detectives continue gathering evidence and reviewing information related to the incident. Animal cruelty cases receive special attention from the LVMPD Animal Cruelty Section. The unit investigates crimes involving abuse, neglect, and intentional harm to animals throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
The South Point Arena & Equestrian Center regularly hosts national rodeo, equestrian, and barrel racing competitions. The venue is considered one of the premier horse event facilities in the region and attracts thousands of competitors and spectators annually.
