David McGee, a 61-year-old evangelical pastor, was apprehended in a Las Vegas hotel room with an assortment of drugs and firearms, including an AR-15 rifle equipped with a scope. This discovery raised concerns among counter-terrorism officials, who feared a potential mass shooting reminiscent of the deadliest in American history, as revealed in court documents.
McGee, who previously served as the senior pastor at the now-defunct Bridge Fellowship in North Carolina, initially contacted the police himself to report a missing item from his room at the Strat Hotel Casino & Tower. Upon their arrival, police inquired about any weapons in his possession, to which McGee admitted to having a firearm in his guitar case.
The pastor, who claimed to have flown to Las Vegas on a private jet in search of his missing daughter, had previously been warned about the hotel’s stringent policy against firearms. This warning came after he was discovered bringing a shotgun into his room days prior.
Upon further investigation, counter-terrorism officers discovered several firearms in his room, including the aforementioned AR-15 rifle. This discovery sparked fears of a potential mass shooting, similar to the 2017 incident where Stephen Paddock killed 60 people and injured over 400 from a Las Vegas hotel room.
Despite these concerns, police issued a press release on the day of McGee’s arrest, August 20, refuting rumors of a thwarted terror plot at the hotel. In addition to the firearms, McGee was also found in possession of fentanyl pills and powder. He admitted to bringing the fentanyl from North Carolina on his private jet and intended to distribute it to his daughter once he found her.
In the days leading up to his trip to Las Vegas, McGee had posted on social media about his journey from Winston-Salem to find his daughter, whom he believed was living in a flood control tunnel. Following his arrest, his wife shared an update on social media, stating that he had made contact with their daughter and was requesting prayers for his health and safety.
McGee was unable to attend his probable cause hearing on August 21 due to health issues. As of now, no bail has been set in his case as prosecutors have yet to file a criminal complaint. He is scheduled to return to court on December 19.