Man arrested in backstage brawl with male strippers appears in court

A man arrested after a backstage brawl with members of the Thunder From Down Under all-male revue appeared today in court, where a judge set a preliminary hearing for April 7.

Joey Kadmiri, 24, is accused of sneaking backstage at the Excalibur on Tuesday and pulling a gun on a group of the buffed-up dancers, according to Metro Police.

The performers confronted Kadmiri when they noticed him trying to steal some of the show’s props and costumes, according to the report. A fight ensued, and Kadmiri put a gun to a performer’s head, police said. One of the men pushed the gun away just as Kadmiri allegedly went to pull the trigger, and a round fired into a wall, according to the arrest report.

Kadmiri is charged with attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon, burglary while in possession of a firearm, six counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed firearm or other deadly weapon, and discharge of a firearm within a structure.

Kadmiri said during a jailhouse interview Friday that he was afraid for his life and high on methamphetamine the night of the alleged incident. He says he self-medicates his mental illness, which has never been diagnosed.