Police say suspect contends stabbing was in self-defense

The suspect accused of fatally stabbing one man and injuring two others during an argument at a southwest valley Denny's on Sunday morning is claiming self-defense, according to a Las Vegas police report.

Police arrested Juan Carlos Paula, 22, at the Denny's at 9310 W. Tropicana Ave., near the Las Vegas Beltway.

According to the report, the first officer who responded at about 7:30 a.m. saw a man, Ernest Allen, bleeding from his chest in a Chevy Tahoe. When the officer located Paula, he said, "I'm the one who stabbed him," according to the report.

He also told police he ditched the knife in a trash bin in the back of the restaurant, the report said.

Allen later died at University Medical Center.

Two other men, James Willis and Corey Walker, were wounded by Paula, the report said. Police said their injuries were not life-threatening.

The report said Paula and two women were at the restaurant with Allen, Willis and Walker. They met at a pool hall before going to Denny's.

According to Paula's initial story, he was struck by Walker on the left side of his face and then approached by the three men. Paula then stabbed them with a 6-inch butterfly knife.

Paula later changed his story and told police the stabbings occurred after one of the men attempted to grab the knife from his pocket, the report said.

According to the police report, Willis and Walker said Paula was the aggressor. They said Paula was mad because Allen supposedly pushed, or said something to offend one of the girls with Paula.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.