A vicious stripper at Portland’s so-called “world infamous vegan strip club” allegedly stabbed a DJ several times — after her boss said she was acting like she was “possessed by a demon” moments before.
New video from inside the Casa Diablo in northwest Portland shows Duncan Allen, a long-time DJ there, working at his station on Dec. 8 when Peyton Lathan, 29, approaches him from behind and thrusts a knife into his back, KGW8 reported.
Lathan stabs him four times, including once in the chest, and runs away as a shocked Allen struggles to dash to safety before collapsing in the kitchen area.
“I was standing in the DJ booth, next thing I know I felt like a 500-pound man punched me in the back like four times,” Allen said of the attack.
“Half the girls were obviously shook and started freaking out — but the other half of the girls were instrumental to my survival,” he added of the employees who saved his life.
As Allen faded in and out of consciousness over the blood loss and lack of oxygen over the collapsed lung, the staff began applying pressure to the wound and called 911 for help.
First responders arrived in minutes and rushed him to the Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, where he continues to recover following surgery to cauterize the wound in his lung.
The club’s owner Johnny Diablo Žūklė said Lathan worked for him for 10 years and seemed “a little off but she never exhibited signs of violent tendencies,” KKTV reported.
“She definitely had a mental health crisis,” he said. “I think she had intended to kill someone, and it just happened to be Duncan, and when I think about it when she was in the dressing room for about 10 minutes, she seemed like she was possessed by a demon.”
Officers found Lathan hiding in the bushes outside the club, with two knives found on the ground nearby, according to court documents obtained by The Oregonian. One of the knives had blood on the tip.
Casa Diablo — which features dancers with names such as Star Cakes, Amethyst and Trouble — bills itself as “one of Portland’s best exotic clubs” on its website, touting the slogan, “Vixens, not veal, sizzle, not steak, we put the meat on the pole, not on the plate.”
It serves a variety of munchies, including Amy’s tofu pad thai, a “mac & cheez bowl” and chimichangas.
Lathan faces multiple charges, including attempted first-degree assault, and she is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.
“During her arrest, Lathan continually said she is ‘pleading insanity,’” the document states.
Lathan allegedly told police that Allen was “a drug dealer,” and “you will find zero trace of drugs or alcohol in my body,” police added.
Allen, who denied being a drug dealer, said he has no idea why Lathan would suddenly attack him. Instead, the DJ is focusing on the overwhelming support he’s received from coworkers and strangers.
“I cannot put into words how much happiness and joy I am feeling right now,” Allen said of the support, with a GoFundMe page raising about $9,000 so far to help in his recovery effort.
“I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who has donated. I’m at a loss for words,” he said in a recent update.
