The man who stabbed two Red Rock Resort employees at the Las Vegas casino in August has pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder in a Nevada court.
On Tuesday, Shayne Sussman (pictured) filed an Alford guilty plea. This essentially allows him to accept that he will be found guilty and sentenced, while avoiding a jury trial and officially maintaining his innocence.
On the night of August 3, Sussman, heavily intoxicated on alcohol, entered a staff-only area at Red Rock Resorts before stabbing an employee who approached him. He then hid nearby and launched a second stabbing attack on another employee who came looking for him.
Sussman was eventually shot on the casino floor and arrested after fleeing police. Both stabbing victims survived the attack, although they sustained serious and life-threatening injuries.
The Guilty Plea
Through his Alford guilty plea, Sussman accepted that he would be found guilty for three counts of attempted murder. District Judge Susan Johnson set his sentencing for November 26.
He could face up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors will be arguing for the full prison term, with a minimum length to be argued on the sentencing date. Sussman’s attorney, Thomas Ericsson, said the defense would not argue against prison.
“The guilty plea agreement was reached through the court’s settlement conference program,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Dickerson said.
“That involved a judge overseeing the negotiation process and all three victims of these crimes being present and involved every step of the way. Shayne Sussman’s guilty plea is a good step toward the healing these victims need. We will continue pursuing justice for the victims and the community at the sentencing hearing scheduled next month.”
The Attack
Sussman entered the Red Rock Resort property at around 1 a.m. on August 3. He had been drinking heavily at a concert the night before. He was “so plastered that he clearly loses control of his mind,” Ericsson previously said of his client.
Prosecutors provided video evidence of all three murder attempts. Sussman was first challenged by one employee after entering a staff-only area. He then stabbed the victim repeatedly in various parts of the body before stabbing a second employee who came to aid the first victim.
Sussman then fled onto the casino floor. There he was quickly found by police, who gave chase when he attempted to run. Sussman attacked one officer with his knife, missing by inches, before being shot in the abdomen
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