Las Vegas Metro Police and the Clark County coroner's office were called out early Wednesday after a body was discovered inside a tunnel near Harry Reid International Airport. Officers were dispatched around 7:03 a.m. to the area of South Las Vegas Boulevard and Dewey Drive, according to initial reports. Authorities have not released the person's identity or the cause of death.
Police response and what they are saying so far
According to FOX5, Las Vegas Metro Police assisted the coroner's office after the discovery and asked the public to steer clear of the area while officers worked the scene. LVMPD told the station that “nothing appears suspicious about the person's death at this time,” although officials noted that the cause of death remains unclear.
Where it happened and why that matters
The scene sits next to airport access tunnels and connector roads, a maze of underpasses and drainage channels that have, for years, doubled as makeshift shelter for people experiencing homelessness. The Las Vegas Review-Journal has previously reported on deaths and violence in similar drainage tunnels, and local advocates say those spaces can be dangerous for people who bed down there, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Next steps in the investigation
Officials have not released additional details while the coroner completes its review, and investigators remain at the scene conducting preliminary work. The public was asked to avoid the area while the probe continues, FOX5 noted.
