A man who threatened to “douse everyone in blood” during a heist at Oregon’s Wildhorse Resort and Casino has been sentenced to two decades in prison.
Javier Vigil, aged 55, entered a guilty plea on April 7 to charges of attempted murder, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm related to the August 17, 2022, incident at the casino located on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
Withdrawal from Insanity Claim
The guilty plea came unexpectedly, just two days into his trial, after he had initially pursued an insanity defense. Nevertheless, U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman ruled on Tuesday (August 4) that Vigil would serve his sentence in a federal psychiatric center, citing diagnoses of schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and opiate use disorder.
During the robbery, Vigil reportedly claimed to be God before opening fire at a responding Umatilla tribal police officer as he attempted to escape, injuring a bystander, as per federal prosecutors.
Vigil entered the casino wearing a baseball cap, gloves, and sunglasses, delivering a note demanding $1 million to the cashier. When the cashier dismissed it as a prank, Vigil brandished a pistol and reiterated his demand.
Once the cashier acknowledged the seriousness of the threat, they proceeded to withdraw approximately $70,000 from the cash register and discreetly activated the emergency alert before placing the cash in a transparent plastic bag on the counter. Vigil departed the casino with the money in under two minutes after entering.
Outside, he confronted a tribal police officer who was taking cover behind a patrol vehicle and fired upon him. The officer returned fire, striking Vigil. A Pendleton School District employee present at a casino event was inadvertently caught in the crossfire.
Delusions of Divinity
Vigil was taken to a nearby hospital where he was arrested and subsequently charged. Investigators noted that he stated he believed he was God, which he claimed justified his actions in robbing the casino.
He also mentioned that he deliberately avoided aiming directly at the officer because he did not wish to harm him.
“Vigil took a gamble and lost when he chose to rob this casino armed,” stated U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford in an official announcement. “His violent behavior jeopardized the safety of innocent employees, patrons, and law enforcement personnel. He received just punishment in accordance with federal law.”