An image from video shows a man sought in a double slaying at Circus Circus.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018 | 6:45 p.m.
Immediately after the “vicious” and mortal stabbing of a pair of tourists in their Strip hotel room, the suspect casually strolls out of the property, his demeanor calm as he tinkers on his cellphone and hauls a victim’s bag on his back.
Metro Police on Wednesday broadcast surveillance footage from inside Circus Circus with the intention that someone in the public recognizes the random-burglary suspect, who’s gone unidentified for five days, and calls police.
Seemingly by chance, the suspect ended inside the 21st floor room of Sang Boi Nghia, 38, a tour operator from Vietnam, and an unidentified Vietnamese co-worker from the company, where he stabbed them multiple times, Spencer said. “It is possible the suspect simply opened the door.”
About 4 a.m. Friday, he was captured going up to the hotel’s top floor, before descending to the crime scene, Spencer said. He wasn’t lugging a backpack then.
Along the way, investigators believe, he cased other rooms, testing doors to see if they’d open, Spencer said. And 45 minutes later, he was again in an elevator, his head low as he checks his phone, this time carrying the bag.
“The victims in this case were viciously attacked and the suspect must be caught as he is a danger to our entire community,” Spencer said. The Circus Circus on Tuesday announced a $10,000 offer for information on the suspect.
It wasn’t until about 12 hours later when security opened the room to make the grisly discovery. Someone in their tour group, which was here from Vietnam via California, had become worried when the victims didn’t show for a planned trip to the Grand Canyon.
Initially, a nearby hotel guest had told police that an argument was heard from the vicinity of the victims’ room about 2 a.m., but it wasn’t reported until after the bodies were found. It wasn’t clear if that is still the case.
Detectives have combed through “many hours of video,” and Wednesday’s footage was discovered just hours before Metro publicized it, Spencer said.
The suspect has a distinct tattoo on his upper back, possibly tribal-like or the top of a dragon. That day he wore a two-tone blue and gray baseball-style T-shirt with a logo on the front, black Adidas sweatpants with white stripes down the pant legs and black shoes.
“These two individuals did not deserve what happened to them, and we want to see justice served on a very dangerous man and see him behind bars,” Spencer said, noting that Metro had incremented resources in its effort to catch him.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Metro at 702-828-3521 or by email at [email protected]. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or online at crimestoppersofnv.com. Tips leading directly to an arrest or indictment processed through Crime Stoppers may be eligible for a cash reward.
