Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Suspect in ‘Thunder’ shooting case refuses to attend court hearing

Updated Friday, March 21, 2014 | 8:42 a.m.

Joey Kadmiri

Joey Kadmiri

A man accused of firing a gun during a backstage scuffle with members of the “Thunder From Down Under” male revue refused to go to court this morning for an arraignment hearing.

Joey Kadmiri, 24, was scheduled to be in Las Vegas Township Justice Court. Defendants can refuse to attend court until a judge issues an order, Las Vegas Township Justice Court Marshal Jim Keener. Judges might continue a hearing several times before that happens, he said.

Judge Deborah Lippis set a new arraignment date for Monday. "Let's see if he wants to come then," she said.

Kadmiri is accused of sneaking backstage at the Excalibur on Tuesday and pulling a gun on a group of the buffed-up dancers.

He is charged with attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon; burglary while in possession of a firearm; six counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon; carrying a concealed firearm or other deadly weapon; and discharge of a firearm within a structure.

The dancers confronted Kadmiri when they noticed him trying to steal some of the show’s props and costumes, according to a Metro Police arrest report.

A fight ensued, and the suspect put a gun to a performer’s head, police said.

One of the men pushed the gun away just as Kadmiri allegedly went to pull the trigger, causing the bullet to fire into a wall, according to the arrest report.

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