LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A man who killed two people and injured six others during a 2022 stabbing spree on the Las Vegas Strip will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
On Wednesday, Yoni Barrios was officially sentenced after agreeing to plead guilty to 15 different counts, including an act of terrorism, murder with use of a deadly weapon, and attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon.
WATCH | Yoni Barrios sentenced to life in prison
He told victims and victims' families that he deeply regretted his actions.
"I just want to say, from the bottom of my heart, that I am sorry and I wish you could forgive me for what I did," Barrios said. "I know I'll be in prison for the rest of my life wishing to take back all of the wrong things that I did. I will think over my crimes and I will carry that weight on my shoulders forever."
For some, the grief and pain of losing a loved one kept them from forgiving Barrios.
"That scene of you running up behind Brent, about to savagely end his precious life, haunts me and will torment me for the rest of my life. I've been permanently scarred from this. It's just been all too much for me," said Valeria Hallet, whose only son, Brent, was killed during the attack. "As far as I'm concerned, you don't deserve to live for all the pain and suffering you have caused but I don't have a say in the matter. I have to trust the American justice system. I only have one last thing to say to you and that is because of the heinous crimes you committed that day, you certainly have secured your place in hell."
"I believe in forgiveness. We all meet our maker and our Lord, which we just celebrated," said Vern DiGiovanni, whose daughter, Maris, was also killed in the attack. "I hope he spends his life finding the Lord and asking for forgiveness. Honestly. Truly. One day, I'll need to ask for it. I can't. I can't forgive him."
Anna Westby was one of the showgirls that Barrios stabbed during the attack.
She says she forgives Barrios for what he did and doesn't want the incident to define the rest of her life or prevent her from living life to the fullest, in honor of Maris.
"He did not take my life or my joy or my empathy or my compassion or my smile. He tried. Absolutely. He tried," Westby said. "I'm going to continue to choose to live and to shine the light to the best of my ability in the way that Maris has. I will continue that every single day for her. ... For me, I forgive you because I deserve to move on, because I deserve to continue living."
In January, we told you that Barrios and his attorney reached a plea deal with prosecutors in exchange for the state dropping the death penalty.
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Barrios' attorney, Scott Coffee, said the attack was fueled by an untreated mental illness. He says Barrios had been trying to get help in California before he came to Las Vegas.
"I understand how he's been portrayed. The fact of the matter is, he was very mentally ill at the time of the offense. He's not been a problem for the state. He's never been a problem for me to deal with. He's never been an issue for the courts," Coffee said. "This incident is a tragedy, and it's definitely a call for reform. I think what the prosecution did here was tough but fair. I understand why they asked for the plea they did. I'm grateful they were willing to drop the death penalty because the mental illness was the motivating factor."
Barrios was initially found not competent to stand trial, and Coffee explained that he has been getting treatment at a state facility for the past few years.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Las Vegas Strip mass stabbing suspect found competent for trial
Now the question is if Barrios will be able to continue receiving his medication in prison.
"There have been concerns raised in court two days ago that the medication regime has changed at the detention center. That's been an ongoing problem with cases," Coffee said in January. "There's a concern as to whether or not he'll remain competent. I suspect that he will, but it's one of those things that we have to watch out for."
