Two dead, six injured in serial stabbings in Las Vegas

Two people were killed and six others were injured in a stabbing attack on the Las Vegas Strip Thursday morning, according to the city’s police department. 

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department received a report of multiple victims in front of a casino at around 11:42 a.m. local time. 

“Our officers immediately responded and with the help of security partners were able to take the suspect into custody very quickly,” police Capt. Dori Koren said at a press briefing. “We were also able to start rendering aid to the multiple victims.”

Of the eight victims, two had died and three were in critical condition, according to Capt. Koren. 

The weapon used in the attack was a large kitchen knife, he said. It was too early in the investigation to provide a motive in the attack, Capt. Koren said.

Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said at an afternoon press conference that the victims were a combination of locals and tourists, but he didn’t disclose their identities pending notifications of their families.

The suspect, who is not from the area, has been described as a man in his early 30s. 

He allegedly informed a woman that he was a chef and that he intended to take pictures with some of the showgirls with his knife. But when the group rejected the man's offer, the woman continued, he started stabbing individuals.

The individual would be registered at the Clark County Detention Center, according to police, who have not yet verified the man's identity.

The last time Vegas made headlines was for the shooting event in 2017, when a sniper fired on a crowd at an outdoor music festival from a neighbouring high-rise hotel, killing up to 60 people and injuring many more.