Las Vegas stabbings: Killer Yoni Barrios held without bail as prosecutors await mental evaluation

Las Vegas stabbings: Killer Yoni Barrios held without bail as prosecutors await mental evaluation
Yoni Barrios, the suspect in the Las Vegas Strip stabbing spree, was formally charged with two charges of murder and six charges of attempted murder on Tuesday, October 11 (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, ABC13 Action News)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: Yoni Barrios, arrested and accused of a mass stabbing at the Las Vegas Strip that left two people dead and six injured, was formally charged on Tuesday, October 11, with two counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder. Barrios used a 12-inch knife to attack five women posing as showgirls and a group of tourists. Previously, detectives determined that he is a Guatemalan immigrant and that he went on a stabbing spree so he could let his anger out.

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The victims of this stabbing spree in Las Vegas were two showgirls Maris DiGiovanni, 30, and Brent Hallett, 47, who died, and four other Las Vegas showgirls along with two tourists were injured in this mindless rampage. The 32-year-old Guatemalan last appeared in court on Friday, October 7, where the judge decided that he would be held without bail. The decision was carried forward after Tuesday's hearing as well. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Deputy Public Defender Scott Coffee is concerned about whether Barrios is fit for a trial or not. During the arraignment, he said, "To be honest, the questions about competency, I’m not even sure he could answer those questions. In order to move forward with a court proceeding, a person has to be competent to assist counsel. There’s some concerns whether or not Mr. Barrios is competent."