Fremont Street stabbing by panhandler puts Las Vegas man in hospital

Zachary Battista survived his Fremont Street experience -- barely.

The 19-year-old’s heart stopped twice and he needed about 15 pints of blood after he was stabbed in the chest by a homeless man early Sunday morning at Fremont Street and 4th Street, the center of downtown’s Las Vegas bustling entertainment district.

Las Vegas police arrested Timothy Dudley, 31, on charges of attempted murder and resisting arrest.

Edward Armbruster, Battista’s 22-year-old brother, witnessed the 3:30 a.m. attack. He told the Review-Journal it happened after Dudley and another homeless man approached their group of five people and asked for cash.

“We told them to get away from us. And then one of them started screaming and became agitated,” Armbruster said.

Michael Kelly, who had been panhandling with Dudley, told detectives one of the young men cursed at them and made fun of Dudley’s Insane Clown Posse shirt, according to Dudley’s arrest report.

Dudley told police one of the men had called him a “Juggaho” instead of a “Juggalo,” as fans of the hip-hop clown duo are known. Dudley also told officers he had served in the Irish Republican Army.

Witnesses said one of the members of Battista’s group pushed Dudley, who responded by moving forward with a folding knife.

Battista, playing peacemaker, pushed one friend out of the way before being stabbed in the chest, police said.

“The homeless guy stabbed the guy who was trying to break up the fight,” a witness told police.

Armbruster said he and his brother both punched Dudley in the face after the stabbing, but Dudley barely reacted.

“I think he was high on something,” Armbruster said. “My brother is a big boy and hit him really hard. His face swelled up.”

The transient later broke a window in the police patrol vehicle with his forehead, police said.

Kelly told police that Dudley, despite being pushed, was the one who escalated the fight.

Armbruster said he feels lucky that Dudley was caught. Fremont Street security guards tackled Armbruster, who was punching Dudley, and allowed Dudley to run away.

But he didn’t venture very far. Arriving police officers arrested him near the scene a few minutes after the incident.

Dudley was taken to Clark County Detention Center, where officers discovered the bloody knife in the front pocket of his shorts.

He told officers the blood was his own.

“Dudley states that he uses the knife to scratch himself,” the report said.

Armbruster said Battista had stabilized as of Monday but was still in critical condition. He had brain function and doctors removed breathing tubes, he said.

Both brothers live in Las Vegas. Armbruster said he’s setting up a fund to support his brother’s medical bills.

“I’m just glad he’s OK,” he said.

Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283. Follow @blasky on Twitter.