LAS VEGAS, NV — A man was reportedly stabbed at the SHOT Show on the evening of January 22, and quick-thinking bystanders used an everyday carry (EDC) tourniquet to help stabilize him until emergency personnel arrived.
The incident occurred just after 6:30 p.m. near the Starbucks located inside the Venetian Expo Center, where the industry-only firearms trade show is being held. According to a firsthand account posted on Reddit, a commotion broke out just outside the coffee shop, drawing the attention of several individuals, including a group from Novox Research—some of whom are trained paramedics.
One witness, Reddit user @Sc00t3r’s companion, described seeing a man holding a heavily bleeding arm with blood visible on the floor. When calls for a tourniquet were heard, the witness retrieved a North American Rescue MFAK from their bag and handed it to one of the Novox team members, who applied the tourniquet to control the bleeding. The injured individual appeared to be in stable condition when the witness left the scene.
Details surrounding the altercation remain unconfirmed, but bystanders at the scene suggested the attacker and victim may have been brothers who became involved in a heated argument that escalated. One reportedly pulled a knife and either slashed or stabbed the other’s arm before fleeing the scene. The attacker was quickly detained by onsite security.
An update in the Reddit thread referenced another witness—identified only as “Ben”—who said he was approximately 10 feet away when the altercation began. According to his account, no one intervened until the knife was brandished, at which point several individuals moved in to stop the attack and disarm the suspect.
A Novox Research paramedic later confirmed on Twitter that the tourniquet was medically necessary, stating that the victim had already saturated a makeshift dressing and was leaving a trail of blood. They emphasized that simply applying pressure would not have been sufficient under the circumstances.
This incident underscores the practical value of carrying medical gear—particularly a tourniquet—as part of a well-thought-out EDC setup. While SHOT Show is one of the safest large-scale events due to the high number of trained professionals in attendance, this situation serves as a reminder that violence can occur anywhere and preparation can save lives.