Las Vegas – Valentine’s Day Stabbing Turns Deadly Near Panda Express as Suspect Claims Self-Defense

The Incident Sparks at a Local Restaurant (Image Credits: Unsplash)

Las Vegas – A routine trip to a Panda Express ended in tragedy on February 14 when a homeless man followed a couple and was fatally stabbed by the woman’s ex-boyfriend in a confrontation police detailed in an arrest report.

The Incident Sparks at a Local Restaurant

A 29-year-old homeless man named Daniel Ohayon lay in a sleeping bag behind a power box when a woman and her boyfriend passed by on their way to the Panda Express in the 2000 block of North Buffalo Drive, near West Lake Mead Boulevard.[1]

The woman tossed small pebbles at his leg, prompting him to sit up. The pair apologized and continued walking, but Ohayon began following them while repeating, “come here, come here, I got something for you.”[1]

Surveillance footage captured the couple entering the restaurant around 5:23 p.m. Minutes later, Ohayon peered through the window and snapped a photo and video of them at 5:37 p.m., data from his phone later confirmed.[1]

Witness Describes Chaotic Escalation

The woman, identified as the ex-girlfriend of the suspect, told police her boyfriend called Justin Ringer, 22, after Ohayon trailed them. Ringer soon arrived on a scooter carrying a baseball bat.[1]

Video showed Ringer pacing the parking lot before crossing North Buffalo Drive to confront Ohayon. The ex-girlfriend recounted Ringer slapping Ohayon in the face. As Ringer and her boyfriend turned to leave, Ohayon hurled a rock that missed its mark.[1]

Ringer then charged back and delivered overhand stabbing motions to Ohayon’s neck, she said. The group fled eastward, dropping the bat near the restaurant. Around 5:45 p.m., 911 calls reported an unconscious, bleeding man nearby.[1]

Suspect’s Shifting Account and Self-Defense Plea

Officers found Ohayon unresponsive in a UMC Quick Care parking lot, covered in blood with large wounds to his head and side. The Clark County coroner’s office ruled sharp force injuries as the cause of death.[1][2]

Ringer first denied leaving home that day, then admitted walking his dog, before acknowledging the call that drew him to the scene. Confronted with video evidence, he described punching Ohayon after the rock throw but initially refused to admit stabbing him.[1]

Eventually, Ringer confessed to two stabs, insisting on self-defense because he feared Ohayon charging after the missed rock. He questioned detectives on why it did not qualify as such and explained not calling police, believing the wounds were minor.[1]

Investigation Uncovers Telling Evidence

A blood trail led from the scene to North Buffalo Drive, alongside Ohayon’s backpack and a bloodied bat. A search of Ringer’s garage residence yielded khaki shorts stained with blood and a black knife he identified as the weapon.[1]

Police arrested Ringer on Wednesday, February 19, booking him on one felony count of open murder. His next court appearance was set for February 25 in Las Vegas Justice Court.[1]

• Surveillance video from Panda Express captured arrivals, confrontations, and flight.
• Ohayon’s phone held timestamped proof of his fixation on the couple.
• Bloody items linked directly to Ringer and the bat possibly used by the boyfriend.
• The ex-girlfriend ended her relationship with her boyfriend post-incident.

This case underscores how quickly everyday encounters can spiral in urban settings, raising questions about boundaries, fear, and accountability. What do you think about the self-defense argument here? Tell us in the comments.