Gunman opens fire at Nellis Air Force Base near Area 51; no public threat reported

A gunman opened fire at Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas early Wednesday, authorities said. The suspect fired rounds at the base’s main gate around 12:30 a.m., prompting Air Force security officers to return fire. The shooter was shot in the leg and taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, Las Vegas police said.

Police said there is no ongoing threat to the public, and investigators are reviewing security footage and interviewing witnesses. The base temporarily closed the main gate and opened an alternate gate to alleviate traffic while the investigation continues. Officials said they would announce when the main gate reopens.

Nellis Air Force Base sits near Las Vegas and hosts a suite of air-combat exercises, including Red Flag, close air support, and Green Flag-West. Area 51, a highly classified U.S. Air Force facility, sits within the Nevada Test and Training Range, which falls under Nellis’ jurisdiction. The base opened in April 1950 and was dedicated to William Harrel Nellis, a U.S. fighter pilot who died in the line of duty after flying 70 World War II missions; it was initially named Las Vegas Air Force Base before adopting its current designation.

Authorities did not indicate any connection to additional targets. The investigation remains ongoing, with officials reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses as they piece together the sequence of events surrounding the shooting at the base’s main gate.