LAS VEGAS (AP) — Known as Disneyland for grown-ups, Las Vegas brands itself as a place where tourists can enjoy a sense of edginess with no real danger.
But a series of violent crimes amid the throngs of tourists is threatening Sin City's reputation as a place to let your guard down with no fear of consequences.
A car-to-car shooting and fiery crash that killed two bystanders and an aspiring rapper Thursday followed an elevator stabbing and a movie theater parking lot shooting.
Though crime is falling on the Strip that houses the city's major casinos, tourism officials worry that vacationers and convention planners could begin to steer clear because of a perception of mayhem.
They say that with violent crime, as with so much else in Vegas, perception may outweigh reality.
