Inside 'HGTV' Tarek El Moussa's Messy Altercation In Las Vegas Where A Man Was Knocked Out

Tarek El Moussa has found himself in legal hot water after engaging in an altercation with a man while in Las Vegas.

The incident took place during what was supposed to be a family vacation for the HGTV star, with witnesses confirming he got quite rough with the other party.

Luckily, Tarek, who is married to reality star Heather Rae El Moussa, didn't have to spend a night in jail. However, that doesn't mean he will go scot-free.

Last Thursday, the real estate agent and an unnamed man got into a brawl while at The Palazzo at the Venetian Resort in Vegas.

The details of what sparked the rift remain unknown, but sources claim the "Flip or Flop" star was only trying to defend his elderly father. An insider revealed that the stranger stepped out of line with the senior El Moussa, causing his famous son to have an outburst.

Witnesses on the scene told the publication that the situation escalated quickly, with Tarek hitting the man in the head with his knee in a brutal attack. Another bystander, who described the scuffle as "bad," confirmed the victim was in terrible shape afterwards.

However, he refused to get medical attention when cops arrived at the scene. A spokesperson for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed to TMZ that Tarek wasn't arrested.

However, authorities cited him for battery and took a criminal report.

Tarek wasn't alone during the tussle, with an informant confirming his wife, Heather Rae, was with him at the time. However, it has since been confirmed she played no role in the fight.

Over the weekend, the "Selling Sunset" alum gave fans a glimpse of the family trip to Sin City, showing off the intimate time they enjoyed.

The famous HGTV couple was joined by both their parents for the getaway, enjoying cabaret performances and luxurious dinners. However, it wasn't all fun and no work.

Included in the Instagram video recap was a recording of "Tarek's Flip Side" star giving a presentation at a real estate seminar.

"Not our average Vegas trip," Heather gushed in the accompanying caption. "Watched Tarek do his thing on stage (so proud!) and made it extra special by bringing our parents along for the ride."

This isn't the real estate mogul's first run-in with the law. In his memoir, "Flip Your Life: How to Find Opportunity in Distress," Tarek opened up about an attempted murder arrest in his past.

As The Blast reported, the 43-year-old recalled how getting into a gang fight landed him in a juvenile detention center.

"I've been in shootings, I've been in knife fights, I've been hit in the face with a bat. You name it, I've had it," he recalled of the incident involving a group of older guys with baseball bats. Recounting the brawl, he wrote:

"Fists flew, and so did the baseball bats. During the free-for-all, an older guy, maybe nineteen or twenty, stepped toward me and swung his bat. I tried to jump out of the way, but the bat connected, hard—hard enough to break my ribs."

Nevertheless, Tarek managed to retaliate, grabbing the bat and hitting his opponent on the head. "He dropped to the pavement and went unconscious," the excerpt read. It was at that moment that the police arrived and arrested him.

Although being arrested might have signified a dark turn, Tarek credits the run-in with the law for saving his life.

"I was terrified when I was [in the juvenile detention center] because the charges I had were really bad charges, and I didn't know if I was going to be there for days or years," he shared.

However, the TV personality noted that the incident was alarming enough to make him reconsider his life choices going forward.

In his words, "Today I’m convinced that the police arrived at exactly the right moment. If I hadn’t been arrested, I would have been killed."

Despite his shady past, Tarek wholly owns up to his actions, declaring, "It's part of my story."

Tarek's Vegas brawl comes weeks after he reflected on surviving two cancers in an emotional Instagram post. He shared a short video showcasing two images.  One was of him looking skinny after beating two cancers, while the other was a recent image of him at 43, looking buff.

"Looking back at this photo still shocks me… I barely recognize the person staring back," he wrote in the caption.

The real estate investor admitted it took everything in him not to give up during the difficult time. Luckily, he didn't quit, and he now feels the best he has ever felt.

Encouraging those who might be in similar shoes, Tarek concluded, "If you’re in the thick of it right now, I’m here to tell you: it does get better. There’s strength in the struggle, and light at the end of the tunnel. Keep going."