By Brian Stanley
bstanley@buglenewspapers.com
bstanley@buglenewspapers.com
A Chicago man has been arrested after a Wisconsin man was fatally stabbed March 24 at Harrah’s Casino.
The incident occurred about 9:57 p.m. in the hallways of the downtown hotel at 151 N. Joliet St.
Police reportedly found Emanuel M. Burgarino, 76, in the hallway with stab wounds to his neck and chest.
Burgarino, of Hales Corners, was taken to Saint Joseph Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 11:01 p.m., according to the Will County Coroner’s office. Wisconsin state records identify Burgarino as the owner of a Milwaukee-area well drilling company.
The casino and hotel are filled with surveillance cameras. Investigators determined Robert A. Watson, 25, attacked Burgarino as he was leaving his room and fled before officers arrived, according to police.
Surveillance photos of the suspect were released. At 1:25 p.m. March 25 – approximately 15 hours after the stabbing – Watson was found on the second floor of the Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa St. – a block from the casino.
“Watson was wearing clothing similar to what was seen in the surveillance photos,” police said in a statement. “ Detectives are still investigating what led Watson to attack and fatally stab the victim.”
Watson was questioned by police before being arrested on charge of murder and booked into the Will County jail.