A casino kitchen worker was arrested after allegedly stabbing five fellow employees at a Northern California resort.
The suspect, a man in his 20s, was taken into custody within minutes of deputies arriving at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. The stabbing was reported around 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Dos Coyotes Border Cafe inside the casino. A KCRA 3 news crew observed the man with an apron in handcuffs being placed into a patrol vehicle, and CBS News Sacramento footage showed him apparently still wearing a kitchen apron during the arrest.
One victim was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the four others were treated at the scene by Thunder Valley emergency personnel and Cal Fire, authorities said. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening. Images from the scene showed victims being treated by paramedics on the casino floor near the slot machines.
“At this point in the investigation, it appears the suspect knew all five victims. No additional suspects are outstanding. And there is no outstanding threat to the public,” the sheriff’s office said in an update on Facebook.
Thunder Valley officials confirmed the incident involved employees and occurred in the kitchen area of the restaurant. The casino was not evacuated and remained open Wednesday night, though the restaurant was closed following the stabbing. The casino referred media inquiries to the sheriff’s office for comment.
Deputies emphasized that there are no additional outstanding suspects and no active threat to people at the casino. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office has not released the suspect’s name or any potential motive for the attack. The relationship between the suspect and the five victims remains under investigation, though authorities have established that they were acquainted.
The Thunder Valley Casino Resort, located in Lincoln about 30 miles northeast of Sacramento, is operated by the United Auburn Indian Community and features a hotel, multiple restaurants, and a large gaming floor. The resort regularly hosts concerts and events in addition to its casino operations.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the stabbing and has not announced any charges against the suspect.