Earlier yesterday, a biological agent that authorities have determined to be ricin was found at the Extended Stay America Hotel, at 4270 South Valley View, off Flamingo and in walking distance of Gold Coast, The Palms, and Rio.

Ricin is a lethal toxin made from castor beans that is as much as 6,000 times more toxic than cyanide. It's typically ingested into the body and within 4 to 12 hours cells are prevented from creating needed proteins and eventually die.

Recently, ricin has made the news for being used in chemical and biological warfare. It has no known cure.

Homeland Security and Metro have swarmed the Las Vegas hotel to decontaminate a room that was found to contain ricin.

Federal agents have continued to surround the hotel throughout the night and early Friday hour.

No further information is known in this breaking story, but we will keep you updated as we find out.