Picture-taking showgirls among victims in deadly Vegas stabbing, witness says

LAS VEGAS -- Two people have died and at least six others were injured on Thursday in what Las Vegas police called a series of unprovoked stabbings in the town's popular tourism center.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said its officers responded to a stabbing with multiple victims in front of a casino in the 3100 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard at about 11:42 a.m.

This block comprises notable casino properties such as Resorts World Las Vegas, the Wynn, and Encore Las Vegas, as well as a nearby shopping strip.

LVMPD initially tweeted that at least six victims were immediately located, with one declared dead.

The police department later tweeted that other victims were being transported to area hospitals with an unknown extent of injuries.

In a later briefing with reporters, LVMPD raised the death toll to two people and the number of injured to six, three of whom are in critical condition. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while a second died at University Medical Center.

A suspect was taken into custody, and police shut down roadways to comb for evidence.

Police said the suspect, identified late Thursday as 32-year-old Yoni Barrios, had a significant amount of blood on his sleeves at the time of the arrest.

Police have not yet identified a motive, but they believe a large kitchen knife was used to carry out the attacks. They added that the scene is secure and there is no further danger to the public.

Stabbings committed over half block of Strip, police say

In a mid-afternoon briefing at LVMPD headquarters, police leadership illustrated what appeared to be a trail of crime on sidewalks typically filled with both tourists and local, outdoor entertainers trying to earn money.

The initial stabbing was unprovoked and happened on the sidewalk next to the Wynn hotel, Deputy Chief James LaRochelle said.

The suspect, whom LaRochelle described as someone who recently visited town, continued southbound, leaving behind five additional victims at different points.

The man then headed off the Strip along a street next to the Palazzo hotel-casino, where another victim was wounded, LaRochelle said. This took place all while he was followed by concerned citizens.

The rampage went on until a security guard and a police officer took the man into custody in a matter of minutes next to the Palazzo's parking garage entrance, Sheriff Joe Lombardo added.

Police mentioned the suspect identified himself verbally.

The police department also presented a video showing the man fleeing amid the chaos he allegedly caused.

Photo-taking 'showgirls' among victims, bystanders say

The sheriff noted that the victims were a combination of Las Vegas locals and tourists.

Witnesses told Las Vegas TV stations that the stabbings occurred in multiple locations, and some of the victims appeared to be showgirls who take pictures with tourists on the Strip.

Pierre Fandrich told KTNV that he did not see the stabbing suspect as he was walking along the Strip. But he said he thought he heard "three or four showgirls laughing," although it turned out to be screaming.

Fandrich said he saw "a lot of blood" as one woman ran across the bridge, one was on the ground, and another had a stab wound on her back as she tried to help the fallen woman.

Fandrich also told KTNV that he thought one of the victims fell from the bridge because there was so much blood on the ground.

Mass stabbings come days after grim anniversary

The mass crime event comes five days removed from the area marking five years since a gunman shot at country music festivalgoers from a high-rise hotel on Oct. 1, 2017.

The incident left 58 people dead, marking it as the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

COMPLETE COVERAGE: Las Vegas mass shooting of 2017

The Associated Press contributed to this report.