Las Vegas stabbing suspect asked showgirls to pose for pictures with knife before attacking them, police say
A man carrying a “large kitchen knife” asked Las Vegas showgirls for pictures while holding the knife, then turned on the showgirls and stabbed them, police said Friday.
Yoni Barrios, 32, fatally stabbed two people and wounded six more in the Thursday attack on the Strip, police said. He was charged with murder and other crimes.
“He has been booked into [Clark County Detention Center] on two counts of open murder with a deadly weapon and six counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon,” police said in a statement.
A total of eight victims were targeted in the apparently unprovoked attack in front of the Wynn hotel and casino, NBC News reported.
#BREAKING: The suspect in today's stabbings on Las Vegas Boulevard has been identified as 32-year-old Yoni Barrios. He has been booked into CCDC on two counts of open murder with a deadly weapon and six counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon. pic.twitter.com/8UzwgeBKP8
— LVMPD (@LVMPD) October 7, 2022
Authorities say that Barrios, who’s not believed to be a Las Vegas resident, attacked his first victim before noon on the sidewalk in front of the Wynn and Encore hotels.
One woman told authorities that she found Barrios’ request to take a photo with the knife uncomfortable and began to back away, according to NBC News. She said Barrios told the performers he was a chef — and then attacked them.
After the initial assault, Barrios continued moving south and stabbed additional victims, cops said.
Maris Mareen DiGiovanni, 30, and Brent Allan Hallett, 47, were killed in the shocking attack, according to the Clark County coroner’s office. Both were residents of Las Vegas.
The names of the other six victims — three of whom are said to be in critical condition — have not been released.
Investigators are still trying to figure out a motive, but Metropolitan Police Deputy Chief James LaRochelle said in a statement that “this was an isolated incident” and that “all evidence indicates Barrios acted alone and there are no outstanding suspects at this time.”
DiGiovanni’s older brother, Gage DiGiovanni, confirmed on Facebook late Thursday night that his “amazing little sister” had died in the “horrific random stabbing of 8 people in Las Vegas today.”
Sharing a happy picture of the siblings, Gage asked for prayers for their family and his sister’s husband.
“We appreciate the space to grieve in the coming days and know she touched your lives as she did ours,” he wrote.
With News Wire Services
