Condition of casino stab victim improves

Monday, Aug. 2, 1999 | 10:28 a.m.

The condition of a tourist stabbed in the abdomen during a robbery Thursday in the Circus Circus hotel-casino parking lot has been upgraded.

The 64-year-old Tennessee resident was listed in fair condition at University Medical Center this morning. His 60-year-old wife, who was slashed across the face during the robbery, was released from the hospital Friday.

Police are withholding the victims' names. The man has improved enough to speak with police about the robbery, Metro Police Lt. John Alamshaw said.

The couple were getting out of their car in the Circus Circus parking lot Thursday night when they were attacked by a knife-wielding man, police said. The robber took several items from the couple and stabbed the man several times in the abdomen before fleeing to a getaway car.

Two girls, described by police as the victims' children, witnessed the stabbings but were not hurt themselves.

Alamshaw said investigators are continuing to interview the victims and potential witnesses. The attacker is described as a 5-foot-4 inch to 5-foot-7 inch Hispanic man with a shaved head. Police say he weighs about 140 pounds and was last seen wearing a blue V-neck shirt over a white or yellow shirt and blue knee-length shorts.