Man Accused of Stabbing on the Las Vegas Strip, Killing Two, Deemed Incompetent to Face Criminal Charges

LAS VEGAS – During a court hearing Friday, a man accused of stabbing eight people on the Las Vegas Strip, killing two, was ruled unable to stand charges.

District Judge Christy Craig stated that two state psychiatrists determined Yoni Barrios, 32, was unable to grasp court proceedings or stand trial. He was sent to a state psychiatric institution until he is declared competent to stand trial for the Oct. 6 attack outside Wynn Las Vegas.

Barrios did not appear in court on Friday because he refused to be taken from the Clark County Detention Center, according to the judge.

He is suspected of stabbing several people, including several showgirls. According to his arrest report, he informed officers that he wanted to “get the rage out” since he felt people were laughing at him for wanting to snap pictures with the women.

Maris DiGiovanni, 30, of Las Vegas, and Brent Hallett, 47, of Alberta, Canada, died as a result of their stab wounds.

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Barrios is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the United States without passing through a border screening post.

In connection with the incident, Barrios has been charged with two counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder. Following a court hearing in October, public attorney Scott Coffee stated that Barrios had a history of contacting mental health doctors and being prescribed psychiatric medicine.

Credits: Review Journal