- Shawn Handley, 45, faces multiple felony charges, including attempted murder, after attacking the mother of his children in Las Vegas.
- The violent incident occurred at a Dollar Tree on March 23, 2026, following a heated argument between Handley and the victim.
- Handley's juvenile son intervened during the attack, firing a handgun to protect his mother from being harmed.
LAS VEGAS, NV — Less than two months after a Utah mother and her daughter were found dead in a hotel room, another violent incident has shaken Las Vegas. Shawn Handley, 45, is facing a litany of felony charges—including attempted murder—following a targeted attack at a Dollar Tree in Northwest Las Vegas. According to arrest reports, Handley used his vehicle to breach the storefront before pursuing and stabbing the mother of his children.
The incident unfolded around 7:30 a.m. on Monday, March 23, 2026, at the Dollar Tree located near Craig Road and Decatur Boulevard.
The Morning of the Attack
The victim reported that she and Handley had been embroiled in an argument regarding their son. Handley allegedly sent threatening text messages, stating he would "beat" her and threatening to drive his car into the business if she did not reply.
When the victim arrived at work, she spotted Handley at a nearby restaurant and fled inside. Shortly after, her juvenile son arrived on a bicycle to confront his father. As the two argued outside, Handley allegedly accelerated his 2011 Buick LaCrosse through the glass storefront, coming to a rest inside the building.
The Pursuit and Stabbing
Following the crash, Handley reportedly climbed out of the vehicle and pursued the victim as she fled toward the loading area. Surveillance footage captured Handley grabbing the woman in a "bear hug" and yelling "it's a wrap" before beating her to the ground.
The victim attempted to hide in a delivery truck parked at the rear of the store, but Handley located her and began stabbing her multiple times with a black utility knife. The attack was only stopped when another Dollar Tree employee physically pushed Handley off the victim and disarmed him.
The Son's Intervention
Handley’s son told investigators he had brought a Glock handgun to the scene specifically to protect his mother. He admitted to firing into the Buick as his father rammed the store and later chasing Handley out of the business while firing until his weapon was empty.
Handley, however, claimed he was the one being hunted. He told LVMPD officers that he drove into the store accidentally while trying to escape his son’s gunfire and that the victim "might have been accidentally cut" during a chaotic "scuffle."
Criminal History and Legal Status
Investigators noted that this was not the first instance of extreme domestic violence within the family. In 2025, the victim was shot during a North Las Vegas incident where Handley and his older son, Shawn Jr., exchanged gunfire. Handley is also a registered sex offender with a prior third-degree rape conviction out of New York.
Handley currently faces several charges, including:
Attempted murder with a deadly weapon
Battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm
Burglary of a business
Assault with a deadly weapon (multiple counts)
Destruction of property
Handley is being held at the Clark County Detention Center on $750,000 bail.
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