metro police
Kirkland Oates
Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021 | 6:05 p.m.
A man accused of sneaking into a restaurant kitchen at Paris Las Vegas followed an employee into the bathroom and slashed him with a butcher knife, leaving him with a “permanent disfiguring” scar, according to Metro Police.
Kirkland Oates, 55, of San Diego remains at the Clark County Detention Center on counts of attempted murder, assault and battery with use of a deadly weapon and first-degree kidnapping resulting in substantial bodily harm, among other charges, according to jail records. Oates made his initial appearance in Las Vegas Justice Court Wednesday.
The victim alleged Oates followed him into the bathroom and pulled out a 12-inch knife before demanding the victim to get on his knees, according to the arrest report. The victim pleaded for the man to put the knife down, but Oates then swung the knife toward the victim’s head/neck area.
The victim lowered his head to protect his throat and was slashed with the knife just above his left eyebrow, police said. The victim was then able to grab Oates and subdue him to avoid further injury.
The two began to struggle, which spilled out of the bathroom and into a hallway where the victim then called for help from other employees. Several employees rushed to help and Oates was apprehended by security and held until police arrival, according to the arrest report.
The victim required “several” internal stitches and nine external stitches, police said. A doctor at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where the victim was taken, said the laceration was so deep, the victim required two layers of internal sutures.
Video surveillance showed Oates following another Paris worker through the employee entrance. As they walked through the security checkpoint, Oates raised his hand to acknowledge a security guard and pretended to scan a work badge as he walked through the entrance, and the guard let Oates through, police said.
Oates followed the employee he entered with through an employee locker room until he proceeded to the kitchen of Mon Ami Gabi, inside Paris. Employees noticed Oates but continued about their business, as many witnesses told police they believed he was a new hire.
Video also showed Oates approaching a table where a chef had his cutlery laid out. As the chef stepped away, Oates grabbed the butcher’s knife and started slashing at a knife bag. Another employee asked Oates to leave and Oates pointed the knife at him before turning away.
After Oates turned away, surveillance showed him leaving the kitchen area and concealing the knife as he walked into the station where employees clock in. That’s where Oates found the victim and followed the victim into the bathroom after he had punched in.
Once Oates was taken into custody, he was transported to Convention Center Area Command for questioning. There, he refused to talk with detectives and requested an attorney, according to the police report.
Oates has a status check scheduled for Monday, according to Las Vegas Justice Court records. An attorney representing Oates is not listed.
