In the early hours of Monday, a dramatic incident took place at the Foxwoods Resort Casino situated in Mashantucket, Connecticut, as police surrounded the sprawling complex following reports of an armed hostage situation inside one of the hotel towers. While details remain scarce, authorities appear to have the situation under control for the time being.
Police Presence Remains Heavy
Shortly after 6:30 a.m., officers from multiple agencies, such as Connecticut State Police, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Police, and specialized SWAT units, converged around Foxwoods Resort Casino. Authorities reportedly responded to reports that a man had barricaded himself with a woman inside a guest room at the venue’s Fox Tower.
Scanner traffic confirmed that police were dealing with a male subject holding a female hostage with a firearm. By mid-morning, law enforcement agents had fully sealed off access to the base of the Fox Tower, evacuated guests inside the building to safer locations, and established a secure perimeter around the building.
Witnesses reported a heavy police presence, consisting of armored vehicles and K9 units. It is yet unclear whether authorities have begun negotiations with the suspect. While the nature of the incident suggests a personal dispute gone wrong, police have not disclosed concrete information. The suspect is also yet to make any official demands.
Other Guests Were Successfully Evacuated
Foxwoods, which is among the largest resort casinos in North America, is operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe. The property spans more than 9 million square feet and boasts a variety of hotels, a shopping mall, a convention center, and a massive gaming operation with over 5,000 slot machines and 250 gaming tables.
Since the casino resort resides on tribal land, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Police are responsible for maintaining order at the venue. However, serious cases often require collaboration with state and federal police. Connecticut State Police have confirmed that they are supporting tribal authorities with a situation. However, they did not disclose additional details.
Authorities have emphasized that there is no threat to public safety or to other areas of the casino complex. The gaming areas and other hotel towers are still open, but guests have been asked to avoid the Fox Tower area until the matter is resolved. Investigators are also reviewing hotel surveillance footage and electronic entry records to piece together the timeline of events leading up to the standoff.