Teen Arielle Phillips Arrested After South Point Las Vegas Police Say She Injured Three Horses

A teenage competitor was arrested after police said three horses were “intentionally injured with a sharp object” at a barrel racing event at South Point in Las Vegas, with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department receiving a report just after 2 a.m. Saturday.

“Teenage barrel racing competitor accused of stabbing horses at Las Vegas event LAS VEGAS (AP) — A teenage girl competing in a barrel racing event was arrested over the weekend after she stabbed three competition horses with a pocketknife at a barn in Las Vegas, according to police and event organizers”

Associated Press

NBC News reported that Arielle Phillips said the 17-year-old “came by twice to try and make conversation,” and that after she left the stall, she wrote on Facebook that the teenager “brutally stabbed” the mare six times.

Associated Press

Police said the injuries were not life-threatening but were expected to prevent the horses from competing, and the teenager was booked on suspicion of 12 counts dealing with injuring horses and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wilson said he is seeking to prosecute the teenager as an adult, framing the case as “deliberate acts of extreme cruelty against defenseless animals.”

Authorities said prosecutors are seeking to move the case involving the teenage girl accused of stabbing several horses to adult court, with the Clark County District Attorney’s Office reviewing what charges to file against the juvenile.

KSLA reported that the teen currently faces 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of property, and that the next hearing was scheduled for Thursday.

Cowboy State Daily

In a statement carried by multiple outlets, Clark County Dist. Atty. Steve Wolfson said, “Nevada law allows certain juvenile offenders to be prosecuted as adults when warranted by the seriousness of the conduct.”

The National Barrel Horse Association described the incident as an “isolated incident during the early morning hours of Saturday, May 30,” and said the “individual involved has been removed and placed in the care of authorities.”

Owners and competitors said the horses were injured but expected to survive, with NBC News naming the other injured horses as Rocket and Saaul Good, or Sully, after the attack.

“Skip to content Teenage competitor arrested after three horses stabbed at Las Vegas barrel racing event, police say Updated: Jun”

FOX5 Vegas

The Los Angeles Times reported that the teenager was booked on 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing of an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property over $5,000, and that the horses’ injuries prevented them from participating.

People reported that the teen faces 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property, and that the injuries “will not be able to compete” in the 2026 NBHA Professional’s Choice Las Vegas Super Show at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center.

In a separate account, the Las Vegas Review-Journal said a GoFundMe page had been set up to help pay for treatment of the injured horses, and that as of Monday afternoon the crowdfunding platform had raised nearly $24,000 of a $35,000 goal.