A 26-year-old Brooklyn man will remain in custody after a violent altercation inside Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City left another patron seriously injured.
Brooklyn Trio Accused of Violent Knife Attack at Atlantic City Casino
Authorities said the incident occurred in the early morning hours of July 13 when a verbal argument between a number of individuals escalated quickly on the casino floor. Police responded to the venue just before 4 a.m. following reports of a fight involving a weapon.
Investigators said the situation escalated when Keontay Long picked up a chair and threw it at the other man, hitting him in the head. Surveillance video shows the victim attempting to escape before being chased and knocked to the ground, prosecutors say. Kevan Winkle, 25, and Tori Sylvanus, 27, also are charged with assisting in holding down the victim as Long slashed the man’s face with a folding knife.
The injured man was taken to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to treat a deep facial wound. His injuries were serious but not life-threatening, officials said later.
Casino security was quick to act, detaining all three suspects on the property until officers arrived. Police found what they think is a knife used in the attack during the investigation.
Atlantic City Casino Suspect Held in Custody Despite Clean Record Claim
Long faces several charges, including aggravated assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes. Winkle is facing similar charges, while Sylvanus was charged with the lesser count of simple assault and released on a summons. Winkle was also released from a court hearing.
During a detention hearing, Long’s defense team argued that the evidence available did not provide a full picture of what happened leading up to the altercation. His attorney said additional information could alter the public’s perception of the fight’s origin. Long’s clean criminal history, steady job, and soon-to-be fatherhood also were reasons to oppose pretrial detention, the defense said.
However, the court ultimately highlighted the severity of the alleged conduct. The victim appears to have tried to disengage before being followed and then assaulted, the judge said, describing the sequence of events as particularly disturbing. Questions also arose concerning a casino setting and a knife and the amount of force allegedly used.
The judge ordered Long to remain in custody as the case moves forward, citing concerns for public safety and the violent nature of the accusations. Defense officials are looking at the possibility of appealing the ruling.