Tourist attacker sentenced to 8-36 years after violent RTC bus rampage
Judge delivers verdict in case that injured California visitor and multiple others
A Las Vegas judge has sentenced Devinski Tunggadewa to serve between 8 and 36 years in prison for a series of unprovoked stabbings that terrorized RTC bus passengers last summer. Clark County District Court Judge Ron Israel delivered the sentence earlier this month as part of a negotiated plea agreement.
The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to charges including attempted murder and battery with use of a deadly weapon for the June 20, 2024 attacks that left Joseph Lopez, a California tourist, fighting for his life after being stabbed approximately 27 times.
Multiple victims across downtown Las Vegas
Security footage captured the disturbing sequence of events that began around 8:55 p.m. when Tunggadewa boarded a bus near Casino Center Boulevard. Witnesses reported he spent several minutes talking to himself and waving a knife before suddenly attacking Lopez, who was traveling with his wife back to their hotel.
The violence didn’t end there. After fleeing the first bus, Tunggadewa boarded a second vehicle on Fremont Street near 10th Street, where he attacked two more passengers after becoming enraged when someone commented on him spitting on the floor. His rampage concluded at Circa Resort & Casino, where he assaulted an employee who noticed his blood-covered hands.
RTC security measures under scrutiny
The incident has intensified focus on safety measures aboard Las Vegas public transit. Since 2023, RTC has invested heavily in security upgrades, including:
- Increasing armed security officers from 250 to 300 systemwide
- Implementing AI-powered weapon detection technology
- Distributing portable panic buttons to drivers
- Installing enhanced driver barriers
Despite these measures, the agency reported 90 passenger-on-passenger assaults in fiscal year 2024, though this represents a 46% decrease from the previous year. Assaults on passengers and operators combined decreased last year, going from 199 in 2023 to 125 in 2024.
Victim faces long recovery
Lopez suffered severe injuries including a spinal cord injury from neck wounds. His family filed a lawsuit against the Regional Transportation Commission, citing the extended period Tunggadewa displayed the weapon before attacking.
With credit for time served since his June 2024 arrest, Tunggadewa will be eligible for parole in 2032. The case remains one of the most violent incidents in recent RTC history, prompting continued discussions about public transit safety in Southern Nevada.
Image Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/man-gets-minimum-8-years-233044143.html
Category: Local News
Subcategory: Crime & Safety
Date: 07/17/2025
