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Javier Francisco Vigil, a 51-year-old man accused of robbing the Wildhorse Resort and On line casino at gunpoint Wednesday, claimed he was “God” and threatened to “bathe everybody in blood” earlier than he stole 1000’s of {dollars} in money, walked out the on line casino doorways, pointed his gun and fired at a responding officer, in line with court docket data.
Vigil, who was wounded in a shootout with police, appeared Friday through video in U.S. District Court docket in Portland after present process surgical procedure at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Pendleton.
Vigil is accused of armed theft and utilizing a gun throughout a criminal offense of violence.
About 12:50 p.m. Wednesday, an officer with the Umatilla Tribal Police Division was despatched to the on line casino on a report of a theft in progress, in line with an affidavit filed in help of a federal felony grievance.
Assistant U.S. Lawyer Cassady Adams mentioned Vigil pointed a gun on the face of a teller within the on line casino and fired within the path of an officer as he emerged carrying the money he had stolen from the on line casino.
“It put lots of people in very critical hazard of getting killed and being injured,” she mentioned.
U.S. Justice of the Peace Decide Jolie M. Russo ordered Vigil to stay in custody after the prosecutor famous Vigil has an in depth felony historical past with quite a few prior violent felony convictions.
In response to an affidavit, Vigil stepped out of a grey Ford truck outdoors the Arrowhead Journey Plaza, north of the on line casino in Pendleton, after which walked to the on line casino entrance. He walked straight to the gaming space’s cashier cage and handed a be aware to the teller demanding $1 million.
The teller instructed investigators she thought it was a joke till the person drew a gun and pointed it at her, saying issues like, “I’m (expletive) God” and “I’m going to wash everybody in blood,” FBI agent Jennifer Duke wrote within the affidavit.
Vigil could be seen pointing his gun on the teller and resting his arm on the desk in entrance of her, in line with video surveillance pictures within the affidavit.
The teller positioned money on the counter and a second teller handed Vigil a transparent bag. Vigil holstered his gun and shoved the cash — $69,098 — within the bag, the affidavit mentioned.
Carrying the clear bag of money, Vigil, wearing a white jersey, ball cap and darkish sun shades, walked out of the on line casino, regarded to his proper and drew his pistol and exchanged gunshots with an officer, Duke wrote.
Vigil was wounded and brought to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Pendleton. He instructed FBI brokers throughout an interview on the hospital that he drew his gun after the teller laughed at his be aware, in line with the affidavit.
When he walked out of the on line casino, he mentioned, he noticed a police automobile and “a cop pointing a gun at him,” the affidavit mentioned. He claimed he fired one spherical however didn’t intention on the officer as a result of he didn’t wish to damage the officer, the affidavit mentioned.
One other witness instructed investigators that the gunman fired two photographs, the affidavit mentioned.
“This isn’t an individual that must be launched from jail,” Adams instructed the court docket. ”He’s a major hazard to the group.”
Vigil’s court-appointed lawyer requested for a listening to to overview his detention, to be scheduled subsequent week.
One other one that was outdoors the on line casino on the time additionally was injured within the taking pictures between Vigil and a responding officer, in line with the FBI agent. An investigation is constant into how the unidentified particular person was wounded, in line with the affidavit.
The bystander works for Pendleton College District and was injured within the shootout between Vigil and regulation enforcement, Pendleton College Superintendent Kevin Headings mentioned in a letter posted on the district’s web site. The employees member’s accidents are usually not life-threatening, he mentioned. Some district employees had been on the on line casino for a college operate and witnessed a lot of the theft and taking pictures, he wrote.
Vigil’s ex-wife, contacted by telephone, known as the taking pictures “tragic and unhappy” and mentioned they’ve three kids collectively.
In a video from Vigil’s YouTube channel, he made a reference to the on line casino the day earlier than the theft and taking pictures, writing under the video: “GET OFF THE WALL. WALMART YOUR MINE. WILDHORSE YOUR MINE.”
Vigil has prior convictions in Umatilla County in 2019 for driving whereas suspended and second-degree housebreaking, in 2017 for assault and in 2008 for housebreaking, assaulting a public security officer and driving beneath the affect of intoxicants, in line with court docket data.
Vigil is being held on the Multnomah County Detention Heart.
— Maxine Bernstein
E-mail mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212
Observe on Twitter @maxoregonian
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