Suspect in custody after 2 dead and 6 injured in stabbing attack on Las Vegas Strip

Suspect in custody after 2 dead and 6 injured in stabbing attack on Las Vegas Strip

On Thursday along the Las Vegas Strip, which is studded with casinos, a guy brandishing a knife with a long blade attacked eight people, two of whom died, in an unprovoked rampage before being taken into custody, according to local officials.
Yoni Barrios, 32, the accused stabbing suspect, was charged by Las Vegas police with two charges of open murder and six counts of attempted murder. The irrational attack’s motivation is a mystery.

Tourists and locals were also victims, according to sheriff Joseph Lombardo. The Las Vegas Sun, citing the Clark County coroner’s office, named the deceased as Las Vegas residents Brent Allan Hallett, 47, and Maris Mareen Digiovanni, 30.

According to officials, three of the six surviving victims are in critical condition.

Maris Digiovanni’s older brother informed his relatives and friends of his sister’s passing via Facebook.

Lombardo had earlier reported that a kitchen knife had been found there.

Around 11:42 a.m. local time, the assault started on South Las Vegas Boulevard next to the Wynn Las Vegas and the Properties World Casino, two of the city’s most well-known resorts.

One of the victims of the assault has been identified as Maris Mareen Digiovanni, 30.
Bystanders informed Fox 5 and other news organizations that several of the fatalities were showgirls posing for photos with tourists.

According to Las Vegas Deputy Chief James LaRochelle, the perpetrator reportedly attacked his first victim in what seemed to be an unprovoked assault before escaping and attacking further victims.

The suspect was followed by “concerned citizens” that called 911 for help, LaRochelle said.

The alleged perp gave police his identity, LaRochelle said, but officers are working to confirm that information. Authorities don’t believe he was a local resident.

“This is clearly a tragic and hard to understand – hard to comprehend – murder investigation that deeply impacts our community, LaRochelle said.

The suspect told a woman he was a chef and wanted to take a picture with some of the showgirls with his knife, but instead began his deadly attack when the group declined his request, the woman told KTNV.

A tourist from Montreal, Canada told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he saw “a lot of blood on the ground.”

“There was one showgirl on the ground,” Pierre Fandrich said in French. “There was another showgirl on top of her, trying to help her friend. She seemed to be stabbed in the back, but she didn’t notice because she was helping the other showgirl.”

Las Vegas police are investigating the stabbing of at least six people on the Las Vegas Strip on Oct. 6.
Video posted to Twitter from the Las Vegas strip showed paramedics urgently pushing a medical bed with one victim wearing a red-feathered skirt on it while tourists looked shocked on the streets.

“This guy came, ran up, and started stabbing this lady in front of me and she ran around the escalators and she tried to get up under the bridge and her girlfriend was trying to help her,” witness Jason Adams told KLAS.

Lombardo said the area is safe as officials would attempt to reopen the area as soon as possible.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said the state would work with law enforcement partners to keep the Las Vegas strip safe.

“Our hearts are with all those affected by this tragedy,” he said in a tweet. “At the State level, we will continue to work with partners in law enforcement to make resources available on the ground and ensure the Las Vegas Strip remains a safe and welcoming place for all to visit.”

One of the victims of the mass stabbing on the Las Vegas Strip today. Two are dead. This video was shot by Pierre Fandrich of Montreal. More: https://t.co/v6L29iayAt pic.twitter.com/FGnysgk1NR

— Brett Clarkson (@BrettClarkson_) October 6, 2022