Tourists offer two phony showgirls in Vegas a $20 tip. Then the women allegedly demand more money and start a brawl
This was one wild fight.
A brawl broke out in Las Vegas on September 30, when two costumed street performers allegedly attacked a couple visiting the city for their wedding from North Carolina. The incident was caught on camera and soon went viral. Police reviewed the footage to investigate conflicting accounts of how the fight began.
The tourists told police they agreed to take a photo with three women in feathered costumes in exchange for a $20 tip. After they paid and began walking away, they said Jennifer Ortiz followed them and demanded an additional $60 to $180.
The tourists and performers gave conflicting accounts
According to the police report, the tourists said the performers followed them before one began hitting them. The performers claimed the tourists started the fight. Video of the incident showed the two women in feathered costumes hitting and struggling with the tourists, with the man eventually losing his shirt in the fight.
Fox 5 Vegas shared details from the police report, which included the fact that Ortiz allegedly removed her high-heeled boot before striking the male tourist in the forehead with it. This left a 2-inch cut (video from the man’s wedding, posted online days later, purportedly showed the wound was still visible). According to the police report, Ortiz struck him 22 times.
The woman said Magdellena Romero, another performer, attacked her when she tried to help her fiancé. She stated that Romero tackled her, struck her in the face and head, and pulled her hair. As for the third showgirl, she only attempted to break things up, and one of the tourists reportedly told police they wanted no charges against her.
Another visitor accused Ortiz of overcharging him for a photo
Police concluded from video and surveillance footage that Ortiz and Romero started the fight. Both tourists requested charges, and police arrested the two women. Another man also reported an alleged fraudulent charge involving Ortiz.
Reportedly, the man explained to authorities that he took a photo after agreeing to pay $60. But after tapping his card against Ortiz’s phone, he discovered he was charged $218. He told police that when he confronted the performers about the charge, they gave him a fake phone number and told him to call it to resolve the issue. He also requested charges.
Ortiz was charged with obtaining money under false pretenses under $1,200 and battery. It was also noted that the Las Vegas Municipal Court had given her a stay-out-of-trouble order previously after another fight earlier in the year. Meanwhile, authorities booked Romero on charges of battery.
Authorities took both women to Clark County Detention Center. They are both due to appear in court on December 3 for a status check.
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