'Just want an opportunity': Yoni Barrios begged for work in LA 2 days before Las Vegas stabbing spree

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Barrios had allegedly approached the showgirls for a photo on a pedestrian bridge, but the showgirls told the police they refused the picture because they felt uncomfortable. Furious, he charged at the woman and stabbed her in the back as she ran away, and allegedly stabbed another woman before running down the Strip and looking for groups of people so he could "let the anger out," police said. According to the arrest report, Barrios thought the showgirls were laughing at him and making fun of him before he attacked them. Photographer Lopez said he didn´t realize the significance of the video until Barrios' arrest on October 6 in Las Vegas. 

Police said the assailant was wearing a long-sleeved chef's jacket and was covered in blood at the time of the arrest. Barrios told the casino security guard he was trying to sell his knives that he kept in a suitcase to raise enough money to go back home. Police have retained the weapon that Barrios tossed into bushes while he fled. Brent Allan Hallett, 47, and Maris Mareen DiGiovanni, 30 are the two Las Vegas residents who died in the attack.  Prior to the attack, Barrios reportedly went to the Wynn casino and asked a janitor about jobs and was also seeking work as a chef.

After the police investigated Barrios' track records they found out that he should have actually been behind bars over a felony charge of domestic abuse in 2018 but the case was dismissed after the Los Angeles District Attorney's office took too long to prosecute it, according to Daily Mail. "I think there is no doubt that our criminal justice system is deeply flawed, and most certainly in the arena of domestic violence," said Cheryl Lowthrop owner of the strip. "Beyond the obvious, had he been convicted and or jailed we would not be in this situation... It is no surprise that we fail to protect our women inside of our legal system as well."

Court documents obtained by DailyMail reveal that Barrios was charged in 2019 with criminal domestic violence by Los Angeles district attorney Jackie Lacey, who has since left office. If he had been convicted the senseless slaughter wouldn't have occurred. Attorney Lacey failed to bring the case to court in time, and after 90 days the judge was forced to dismiss the case under California speedy trial laws. In 2016, he was prosecuted for driving dangerously without a license. After his arrest, Barrios told detectives he was from Guatemala and wanted ICE to take him home, according to a report released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said Barrios will be charged with two counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder and the prosecutors will decide in the next 30 to 60 days whether to seek the death penalty in the case. Barrios is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.