Las Vegas Crime Roundup: Suspect Facing Charges in Attempted Murder of RTC Bus Supervisor

Posted on: May 4, 2023, 08:55h. 

Last updated on: May 4, 2023, 04:59h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

A Las Vegas man was behind bars on Thursday awaiting court proceedings on charges of attempted murder and battery with the use of a deadly weapon. He allegedly stabbed an RTC bus supervisor last month after the driver asked him to not yell out an offensive term.

Xavier Whatley
Xavier Whatley in a mug shot, pictured above. He allegedly stabbed a bus supervisor in Las Vegas. (Image: LVMPD)

Xavier Whatley, 40, was waiting to board a public bus on April 24 at the Bonneville Transit Center near Casino Center Boulevard and Garces Street.

He initially repeatedly shouted the offensive term for a woman’s genitals while several people waited for the bus, authorities said. A supervisor, later identified in news reports as George Duke, told him to stop saying the word because it’s “rude and disrespectful,” Las Vegas TV station KTNV reported.

Whatley then pulled out a butcher knife and allegedly stabbed the supervisor once in the upper-left chest with the 10-inch blade.

Duke suffered critical injuries and was transported to University Medical Center. He’s continuing to recover from his wound, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS.

Duke was identified as a supervisor with Keolis, a company that provides RTC bus service, according to local news reports. He approached the waiting passengers to let them know a bus was on its way.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers were notified about the stabbing by one of the awaiting passengers. A short time later, they followed a trail of blood that led them to Whatley, hiding in some bushes on Third Street. The knife was nearby.

Officers noticed a cut on his right hand, which they believe occurred when he stabbed Duke.

Whatley was taken to University Medical Center for treatment of the cut. He was later arrested and booked at the Clark County Detention Center. His bond was set at $50K. He’s scheduled to appear in local court on May 11.

Four Wounded by Gunfire Near Airport

Four people suffered gunshot wounds early Sunday on a street south of Harry Reid International Airport.

The victims were there to either watch or participate in stunt driving and racing at Bermuda and Pilot roads in what is commonly called a “street takeover,” according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). Sometimes, the event is called a “sideshow,” according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS.

The victims were transported to several local hospitals. One of them suffered critical wounds, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

More than one person fired the shots following a disagreement, police said.

$250K Theft at Downtown Grand Casino

Word came this week that Las Vegas’s Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino was robbed of $250K. Casino.org contacted the casino for basic details, but none were provided. All that was revealed in local media is that the casino’s director of surveillance, Tanya Peoples, provided information that led to a suspect’s arrest.

The suspect was identified as Ngyuen Le, according to Las Vegas TV station KSNV.

Casino officials praised Peoples, but didn’t explain what happened or when the robbery occurred, Las Vegas TV station KTNV reported.

Body Found Near Orleans Casino

A body was discovered next to a dumpster on Monday morning near the Las Vegas Strip, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS.

It was on Tropicana Avenue near Decatur Boulevard, a block from the Orleans Hotel & Casino.

Las Vegas police were investigating the incident this week, and an autopsy will likely be performed. No other details have been released.