Joseph Naugle, 22, appeared in Placer County court Friday wearing an anti-suicide vest to face charges in a stabbing attack that left five coworkers injured at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort. Naugle was charged with two counts of premeditated and willful attempted murder, one count of assault with a deadly weapon by knife, and two counts of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury.
Prosecutors stated that the alleged attacks in the kitchen area of the Dos Coyotes Border Cafe were premeditated. Naugle did not enter a plea during the hearing and is scheduled to return to court next week. He is being held without bail, and prosecutors intend to keep him in custody throughout his trial.
The Placer County District Attorney's office indicated that the motive behind the attack remains under investigation. The DA credited heroic actions by some casino employees for preventing potentially more injuries.
The incident occurred Wednesday night when Naugle, who had been employed at the casino for approximately six weeks, allegedly attacked his colleagues. Police arrived within minutes of the report and took Naugle into custody. He was still wearing his kitchen apron at the time of his arrest. He is a resident of Roseville and graduated from a local high school in 2022.
Of the five victims, one was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released. The other four victims were treated at the scene by emergency personnel. Security footage and witness statements are being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Dos Coyotes restaurant was closed following the attack, but the casino itself reopened Thursday night. The casino's social media posted about a Bruno Mars tribute concert on Thursday, making no mention of the incident.