Thunder Valley Casino Stabbing Leaves Five Employees Injured in Lincoln

Casino employee arrested after knife attack inside restaurant

LINCOLN, California — Five employees were injured in a stabbing attack at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln on Wednesday night, and authorities arrested a 22-year-old casino employee who remained inside the property after the violence, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were called at about 7 p.m. for a report of a possible stabbing at the Dos Coyotes Border Cafe, a restaurant inside the Northern California casino resort. Thunder Valley Casino is in Lincoln, roughly 30 miles northeast of Sacramento.

Authorities identified the suspect as Joseph Naugle, 22. Deputies took Naugle into custody shortly after arriving at the casino, sheriff’s officials said. He was booked on two felony counts of attempted murder and was being held at the South Placer County Jail in Roseville.

The sheriff’s office said Naugle allegedly used a knife during the attack. Investigators believe he acted alone, although the case remains under investigation.

One victim was taken to a hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Four other victims were treated at the casino, authorities said. All five injured people were employees of the resort; no guests were reported injured or involved in the incident.

Investigation focuses on attack involving casino staff

The fact that every reported victim was a casino employee distinguishes the Thunder Valley Casino stabbing from an attack involving patrons at the busy resort complex. Investigators have not publicly disclosed a possible motive, the relationship between Naugle and the victims, or whether the alleged attack was preceded by an argument or other workplace dispute.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort is a major entertainment and gaming destination in Placer County, drawing visitors from the Sacramento region and beyond. A violent incident involving employees can trigger scrutiny of workplace security procedures, but officials had not announced any broader public-safety threat connected to Wednesday night’s attack.

Naugle was scheduled to be arraigned in Placer County court on Friday. A representative for him could not immediately be located for comment. The charges are allegations, and Naugle is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details about the knife, the circumstances leading to the stabbings, or whether further charges may be sought. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.