A decade-long professional relationship between two nightclub workers took a violent turn at Portland's unique vegan strip club.

According to Daily Mail, an erotic dancer at Casa Diablo Vegan Strip Club allegedly stabbed DJ Duncan Allen multiple times in the back during what witnesses described as a demon-possessed attack.

Peyton Lathan, 29, who had worked at the club for over ten years, was caught on surveillance footage standing behind Allen before launching an unprovoked assault. The incident left the DJ with a collapsed lung and multiple injuries, though none were life-threatening.

Surveillance Footage Shows Unexpected Attack

The attack occurred while Allen was preparing his music selection at his mixing desk. Security cameras captured Lathan positioning herself behind the unsuspecting DJ before suddenly striking him multiple times with a knife. After the initial assault, footage shows Lathan staring at Allen for several seconds before he managed to escape to the bar area.

Allen initially thought he had been punched by a large man due to the force of the impact. The severity of the attack became apparent only when he realized his lung had collapsed after taking a breath. Medical professionals later informed Allen that he was minutes away from drowning in his own blood that was slowly filling his lungs.

Club owner Johnny Diablo Zukle described Lathan's behavior as highly unusual for someone who had worked at the establishment for over a decade. While acknowledging that Lathan had always seemed "a little off," Zukle emphasized that she had never shown violent tendencies before the incident.

Mental Health Crisis Leads to Criminal Charges

During her arrest, Lathan told police she was "pleading insanity" and accused Allen of being a drug dealer, claims which the DJ has denied. She was found hiding in bushes near the road while paramedics were helping to escort Allen's ambulance to the hospital.

According to club owner Zukle, the incident appeared to be the result of a severe mental health crisis. He shared his observations about Lathan's concerning behavior leading up to the attack:

She was always a little off, but she never exhibited signs of violent tendencies. She definitely had a mental health crisis. 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.

Allen has expressed frustration that warning signs about Lathan's deteriorating mental state weren't addressed sooner. He believes the incident could have been prevented if others had spoken up about her concerning behavior before it escalated to violence.

Victim Reflects on Near-Death Experience

Allen shared his perspective on the traumatic experience, detailing how close he came to a much worse outcome:

She could've cracked my ribs. She could have stabbed me in the kidney. She could have stabbed me in the neck. She could have stabbed me in the spine. If I have to be honest with you, I think she should get charged the highest because the fact is this was premeditated.

The DJ's immediate future at Casa Diablo remains uncertain as he focuses on recovery. A GoFundMe page has been established to help cover his medical expenses. In the meantime, Allen has expressed a desire to take time to process the traumatic experience, stating his need to reconnect with nature and his pet dog.

The incident has drawn renewed attention to Casa Diablo, which gained national recognition in 2008 as the world's first vegan strip club. The establishment previously made headlines in 2013 when then-U.S. Senate candidate Cory Booker's Twitter exchanges with one of its dancers became public, and again in 2015 when former dancers filed a federal lawsuit over wage disputes.

Lessons to Learn from This Tragedy

The unforeseen disillusionment at Casa Diablo serves as a harsh reminder of the importance of vigilance. First, always be aware of your surroundings, as even familiar spaces can present dangers unexpectedly.

Second, support and promote mental health awareness. Recognizing and responding to unusual or erratic behaviors among peers might prevent such crises. Lastly, the critical role of community and quick emergency response cannot be overstated; these systems can make a difference in crisis conditions. Regardless of preventive steps, we must understand that crime can happen to anyone, and victim-blaming only detracts from addressing the real issues.

Why This Story Matters

Allen's attack underscores the crucial necessity for mental health awareness and effective public safety measures across all workplaces, including unconventional settings like strip clubs. It draws attention to the vulnerability of nightlife venue workers and the imperative need for robust workplace safety protocols. The incident at Casa Diablo is a poignant reminder of the potential dangers lurking in places thought to be safe, spotlighting both the human and systemic factors that can contribute to workplace violence.

Justice Awaits as Investigation Continues

An erotic dancer's alleged demon-possessed attack on a DJ at Portland's Casa Diablo Vegan Strip Club has resulted in serious charges and an ongoing investigation. Peyton Lathan faces multiple assault charges and a weapons charge after allegedly stabbing Duncan Allen multiple times in an unprovoked attack caught on surveillance footage.

The incident occurred at the world's first vegan strip club, where both individuals had worked together for over a decade without previous incidents. Lathan is scheduled for arraignment on her indictment, while Allen focuses on recovery from injuries that nearly proved fatal, including a collapsed lung that required immediate medical intervention.