Allison Howlett allegedly spent more than a year making threats to carry out a mass shooting before stealing her spouse's Subaru WRX loaded with more than 20 firearms and leading police on a standoff in a Henderson hotel parking garage, according to court records and investigators.
Background
The investigation began June 27 when Howlett's spouse, Julie Howlett, called 911 to report that Allison Howlett had taken her Subaru WRX containing over 20 firearms. Julie Howlett told dispatchers she was transporting the weapons out of state as part of her work as a federally licensed firearms dealer.
According to an arrest report obtained by KLAS, investigators learned the alleged threats dated back to January 2024. In one recorded conversation, Allison Howlett allegedly warned law enforcement, "If the FBI doesn't come arrest me, there is going to be a mass shooting one day ... you're going to be the reason hundreds of people lose their lives."
The confrontation began after Julie Howlett discovered her spouse had been using her credit card without permission.
"That morning, I woke up to Allison Howlett spending money on my credit card," Julie Howlett told KVVU. "She came in with a gun."
Julie Howlett alleged she struggled to wrestle the weapon away after Allison Howlett pointed it at her.
"She had pulled the trigger — she was going to kill me," Julie Howlett said. "She took off. I ran outside. I had the gun still in my hand. I unloaded it."
During a separate recorded 38-minute conversation, when Julie Howlett asked, "So you're going to shoot it out with the police," Allison Howlett allegedly responded, "No, I'm not, they are going to shoot me dead."
Investigators also allege that on multiple occasions, Allison Howlett donned body armor, grabbed a rifle and asked her spouse to drive her to a homeless shelter while suggesting she wanted to shoot homeless people.
The Charges
A Clark County grand jury indicted 36-year-old Allison Howlett last week on 34 felony charges, including making threats or conveying false information concerning an act of terrorism, assault with a deadly weapon constituting domestic violence, grand larceny of a motor vehicle, 20 counts of grand larceny of a firearm, eight counts of possession of a machine gun or silencer and three counts of possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun.
The terrorism count was added through the indictment just days after Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson publicly stated prosecutors did not believe they had sufficient evidence to support such a charge, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Police tracked the stolen Subaru to the parking garage at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino in Henderson. According to KVVU, Allison Howlett allegedly refused repeated commands to exit the vehicle, blasted loud music and made obscene gestures toward officers before they pulled her through the driver's-side window and used a Taser to take her into custody.
Authorities reportedly recovered a handgun from the driver's seat area, a suppressed B&T TP9 in the back seat and approximately 20 additional firearms from the trunk. Because of the alleged threats of a mass-casualty attack, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police counterterrorism detectives joined the investigation.
A subsequent search of the couple's home reportedly uncovered another 26 firearms, including an M2 .50-caliber machine gun, an M5 rocket launcher and multiple rifles equipped with grenade launchers, along with electronic devices.
Howlett pleaded not guilty Tuesday during her court appearance. She remains jailed on $500,000 bail.
Key Takeaways
- Alleged threats of mass shooting began in January 2024 and continued for over a year before the indictment
- Howlett allegedly made statements about wanting to provoke officers into killing her in a 'suicide by cop' scenario
- Police recovered more than 46 firearms total, including an M2 .50-caliber machine gun and M5 rocket launcher
- Counterterrorism detectives were brought in due to the nature of the alleged threats
- Howlett remains held on $500,000 bail after pleading not guilty
What's Next
Howlett's trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 12 before a Clark County District Court judge. Prosecutors are expected to present evidence including recorded conversations and testimony from Julie Howlett, who told investigators she feared for her life during the June confrontation.