LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The suspect in the mass stabbing on the Las Vegas Strip that killed two and injured six more appeared in court for arraignment on Tuesday morning.
Barrios was formally informed of his charges — two charges of murder and six charges of attempted murder — during the arraignment.
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Barrios last appeared in court on Friday, Oct. 7, where a judge decided that he would be held without bail. The judge decided on Tuesday that Barrios would remain being held without bail.
Attorney Scott Coffee, the public defender assigned to Barrios’ case, also told the judge he has concerns about whether or not Barrios is competent.
“A person has to be competent to assist council,” Coffee said. “They have to know the time and place. There’s a fundamental level he has to meet."
Coffee’s office will do an internal evaluation of Barrios to determine whether or not he’s competent. If Barrios is determined not competent, he will then would undergo a third-party court-appointed psychological evaluation.
“If there’s a finding that he’s not competent to move forward, he going to be sent to a state facility for evaluation, either Lakes Crossing in Reno or Stein here in Las Vegas,” Coffee explained. "They would try to restore him to competency through medication, any kind of psychological counseling they can give him."
When asked whether or not Barrios is a US citizen, Coffee said they don’t know right now. They do know Barrios is from Guatemala and spent time in California before coming to Las Vegas.
After Barrios waived his right to a preliminary hearing within 15 days, the judge set his next appearance date for Jan. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Steve Wolfson told KTNV that prosecutors should decide in the next 30 to 60 days whether to seek the death penalty in the case.
