A man who came into the U.S. illegally from Guatemala has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms for killing two people during a knife attack on the Las Vegas Strip in 2022.

Yoni Barrios, who fatally stabbed 30-year-old Maris Mareen DiGiovanni and 47-year-old Brent Allan Hallett, also wounded six others in the same attack. The violent spree happened after Barrios allegedly became angry when a group of showgirls refused to take a photo with him. He then pulled out a kitchen knife and began stabbing people at random. Officers caught him outside the Wynn Hotel shortly after the attack, reports KTNV.

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Yoni Barrios, 34, was found competent to stand trial after a 2-year hospitalization

Maris Mareen DiGiovanni, 30, and Brent Hallett, 47, were killed in the October 2022… pic.twitter.com/xKIo58X1DO

— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) January 7, 2025

Barrios had a history of legal issues in the U.S. before the killings. In 2016, he was prosecuted for reckless driving and driving without a license in Riverside, California. “ICE told Fox News Digital that it was never alerted about Barrios’ immigration status in 2016.” He paid a fine and was released. In 2019, he faced a domestic violence charge but was never prosecuted, according to Fox News.

He spent nearly two years in a hospital after being ruled mentally unfit to stand trial, but later pleaded guilty to the charges in January. His sentencing took place on Tuesday.

“California is a ‘sanctuary state’ for illegal immigrants, and does not typically cooperate with federal immigration authorities.”

NEW: The Vegas 'killer' who randomly stabbed a showgirl and a man to death and injured six others on the Las Vegas Strip has been found competent to stand trial after a 2-year hospitalization

Yoni Barrios was found not competent for trial in December 2022 and committed to a… pic.twitter.com/WoyiwVYLWR

— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) December 23, 2024

Barrios was never deported, despite his record and immigration status. His case has fueled renewed debate about sanctuary state policies and federal cooperation on immigration enforcement.