Police ID suspect in shooting during fight with male revue dancers

By Bethany Barnes

Published Wednesday, March 19, 2014 | 6:30 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, March 19, 2014 | 4:16 p.m.

Everyone figured he must be the new guy.

Plenty of performers from the male strip revue Thunder From Down Under noticed a man wandering backstage Tuesday, but a masculine guy with a chiseled jaw in a fireman shirt isn’t an unusual sight in the dressing rooms frequented by the show’s fit, muscular men.

But when the man appeared to be stealing props and costumes, the dancers brought their thunder offstage.

A Metro Police arrest report released today provides a dramatic account of the behind-the-scenes confrontation at the Excalibur between the dancers and a man, identified Thursday as Joey Kadmiri, 24. Police said Kadmiri initially lied about his name.

According to the report, released before Kadmiri's identity was confirmed:

Dancer Ryan Paki became suspicious when he noticed a suitcase, several of the show's props and even some of his own costumes in a clump by an exit. Paki grabbed the show director and while the pair were inspecting the suitcase, the suspect approached them.

“What are you doing? I just bought all that stuff for my girlfriend,” the suspect said.

Five dancers went to see what was happening, and together the performers tried to take back the props and costumes.

A fight broke out.

“I got a gun, I’m gonna shoot,” the suspect said as he whipped out a .44 Magnum handgun.

The suspect put the gun to performer Scott Berchtold’s head.

As the suspect went to pull the trigger, one of the men pushed the gun away from Berchtold.

The bullet hit a wall and the gun skidded to the floor, allowing the performers to detain the suspect until hotel security arrived.

Dancer Matthew Fardell suffered minor injuries related to the gun discharging but was treated on scene and went back to performing.

The suspect was taken to University Medical Center and treated for injuries the dancers inflicted during the backstage scuffle.

A jailhouse booking photo shows a black eye and facial bruises.

"The suspect definitely got the worst of it," Metro Officer Laura Meltzer said.

While at the hospital, the suspect was “extremely violent” with medical personnel, refused to say who he was and had to be sedated, police reported

Prosecutors on Thursday filed a criminal complaint in Las Vegas Township Justice Court charging Kadmiri with attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon; burglary while in possession of a firearm; six counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon; carrying a concealed firearm or other deadly weapon; and discharge of a firearm within a structure.

He remained in jail without bail on Thursday.

“Everybody is fine,” Penny Levin, a representative for Thunder From Down Under, said in a statement. “The show remains on schedule, with 12 performances a week at Excalibur. We look forward to seeing everybody at the show.”

Sun reporter John Katsilometes and The Associated Press contributed to this report.