Man sparks terror response at Las Vegas Strip resort with ‘flamethrower’ device: police

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A guest at a Las Vegas Strip resort is accused of using a homemade flamethrower device to trigger the building’s sprinkler system in an incident that prompted a counterterrorism response, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Gavin Hamilton, 26, faces charges including assault with a deadly weapon, arson and drug possession, records said.

On Sunday, Sept. 1, a person at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas called 911 about an incident inside the hotel involving maintenance workers and the building’s fire protection system. Officers learned a person triggered a water flow alarm in a stairwell, leading a worker to encounter Hamilton, documents said.

When maintenance workers attempted to approach Hamilton in the stairwell, he allegedly lit an unknown liquid through a hose toward them, police said. Police described the device in Hamilton’s backpack as a flammable liquid connected with a 3-foot-long metal hose.

While speaking with officers, Hamilton, who was covered in a black oily substance, reportedly said he was running from two people in the stairwell. He said his backpack had several items inside — including bongs, butane and a meth pipe — which he used to create a “flamethrower device,” police said.

Hamilton said he activated the sprinkler to open a locked door, police said. Instead, only black water was released, and the door did not unlock.

Hamilton was a guest at the property, police said.

Hamilton did not appear for his initial court hearing on Sept. 2, records said. Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Amy Ferriera set bail at $34,000. Hamilton remained in custody at the Clark County Detention Center as of Wednesday.

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