The attack happened inside a restaurant kitchen at Thunder Valley Casino, where authorities said none of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries.
LINCOLN, Calif. — Five restaurant employees were stabbed inside a kitchen at Thunder Valley Casino on Wednesday night, and a coworker was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, authorities said.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Joseph Naugle. Deputies responded around 7 p.m. Aug. 19 to the Dos Coyotes restaurant inside the casino and took Naugle into custody within minutes, according to authorities. Investigators said all five people who were injured knew the suspect, but a motive had not been disclosed as of Thursday.
The attack occurred in the kitchen area of Dos Coyotes and did not involve casino guests, a Thunder Valley Casino spokesperson told local news outlets. One victim was taken to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Four others were treated at the scene by Thunder Valley emergency medical personnel and Cal Fire. Authorities said none of the five victims had life-threatening injuries.
News cameras at the casino recorded Naugle being placed into a sheriff’s vehicle after his arrest. He appeared to still be wearing a kitchen apron. Authorities said he also worked at the restaurant, making the incident a workplace attack involving employees who were acquainted with one another.
The Sheriff’s Office booked Naugle into the Placer County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder. KCRA reported that investigators expected additional charges in connection with the five injured workers. An arrest and booking do not establish guilt, and authorities had not announced a final charging decision from prosecutors as of Thursday.
Authorities have released few details about what happened immediately before the violence. Investigators have not publicly identified a dispute or other event that may have led to the attack, and they have not disclosed a possible motive. The identities of the five injured employees also had not been publicly released in the reports reviewed Thursday.
Officials said deputies quickly determined there were no additional suspects and no continuing threat to casino patrons or the surrounding community. The casino was not evacuated and remained open following the incident, while the restaurant where the stabbing occurred was closed during the investigation.
Thunder Valley Casino Resort is located near Lincoln in Placer County, northeast of Sacramento. The stabbing drew a large emergency response to the property Wednesday evening, but casino officials stressed that the violence was confined to the restaurant’s employee area and that no guests were involved.
Local reports differed on Naugle’s age, with KCRA reporting that he is 22 and CBS Sacramento reporting that he is 23. The available reports otherwise agree that the Sheriff’s Office identified Naugle as the arrested restaurant employee and booked him in connection with the attack.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said its investigation remains active. Authorities had not announced a motive, identified the victims or disclosed what additional charges, if any, may be filed as investigators continued reviewing the attack.