Wildhorse robber pleads guilty

PORTLAND – Javier Francisco Vigil, 54, of Umatilla County pleaded guilty of attempted murder, robbery, and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon in the crime committed at Wildhorse Resort & Casino on Aug. 17, 2022. He changed his plea to guilty on the second day of his trial.

Court documents reflect that Vigil entered the casino, walked to the cashier cage in the gaming area, and handed the cashier a note demanding $1 million. He then drew a holstered pistol, pointed it at the cashier and threatened to “bathe everyone in blood.”

He was given over $69,000 and exited the casino. He shot at a responding Umatilla Tribal Police Department officer who returned fire, striking Vigil. During the standoff a bystander was also hit by gunfire. Court documents from FBI Special Agent Jennifer Duke also disclosed that Vigil told her he pulled the semi-automatic 45-caliber pistol from the Arms Corporation of the Philippines when the cashier laughed at him after he demanded the money.

Vigil will be sentenced on Aug. 4.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Umatilla Tribal Police Department. They were assisted by the Hermiston Police Department, the Pendleton Police Department, the Oregon State Police, the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, and the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office.

File photo from U.S. District Court records showing the robbery in progress

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Elkhorn Media Group