Early Friday in the central Las Vegas valley, a man waiting outside a business to open was beaten so badly he later died at a hospital, according to police. Officers were called after dispatchers received a report of an unresponsive man, and the victim was transported to a nearby medical facility, where he was pronounced dead. Witnesses told investigators the attack started when one person punched the man in the face, then a second person jumped in. Both suspects ran off before officers arrived, leaving police to lock down the scene.
What police say
According to a police account reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the assault happened in the 900 block of East Sahara Avenue, and dispatchers received the call at about 6:19 a.m. The outlet reports that a police news release said the first punch knocked the man to the ground, and a second person continued hitting him until bystanders stepped in. By the time officers got there, both suspects had already taken off on foot.
Witness accounts and suspects
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a news release that detectives are treating the case as a homicide and are working multiple leads. The department asked anyone who has video or firsthand information about the beating to contact investigators through the police tips line or online channels listed by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Coroner and next steps
Authorities said the Clark County coroner's office will identify the victim and determine the official cause and manner of death. No arrests had been reported when this account was filed, and detectives are still working to understand what sparked the confrontation, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Investigators again urged anyone who saw the assault, or who has phone video from the area at the time, to contact the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The case remains an active homicide investigation.
