A confrontation outside a Las Vegas food bank that reportedly began with a request for a cigarette ended in the death of a 60-year-old man who police say was beaten after stepping in to protect his girlfriend from two men.
Authorities have arrested one suspect, while a second alleged attacker remains at large.
According to an arrest report, Scott Dennis, 60, was waiting in line with his girlfriend outside a Las Vegas food bank when Shiloh Leutu, 38, and another man approached the woman and asked her for a cigarette.
Police said the woman replied that she did not smoke. Investigators allege that after she refused, the two men began insulting and verbally harassing her.
Dennis had briefly stepped away from the line to smoke a cigarette. When he returned and saw the confrontation, he stepped in to shield his girlfriend from the two men.
According to investigators, the situation quickly escalated into violence.
Using surveillance video and witness statements, detectives determined that one of the suspects struck Dennis in the face, knocking him to the ground. Police allege that the second suspect then joined the assault, and the two men repeatedly punched and kicked Dennis as he tried to get back up.
In a news release, police said the attack continued until bystanders intervened and managed to stop the beating.
Following the assault, both suspects fled the area before officers arrived.
Investigators later identified Leutu as one of the alleged attackers and arrested him on July 15. As of Monday, authorities said the second suspect had not been located.
Court records show Leutu was initially charged with open murder and battery of an older person resulting in substantial bodily harm. However, the Clark County District Attorney’s Office later declined to pursue the murder charge at this stage of the case.
Prosecutors said the decision was made because the final autopsy report has not yet been completed. They noted that the charges could be amended later depending on the medical examiner’s final findings.
According to the arrest report, the doctor who performed Dennis’ autopsy indicated that the assault contributed to a heart attack the victim may have suffered. However, the official cause and manner of death remain pending further medical analysis.
During questioning, Leutu allegedly claimed that Dennis had placed him and the second suspect in headlocks after hitting and kicking them.
Police said surveillance footage did not support that version of events. Instead, investigators concluded that Leutu and the second suspect were the aggressors and that Dennis was attacked after intervening on behalf of his girlfriend.
Leutu was scheduled to appear in Clark County court on Monday as the criminal case proceeds. Meanwhile, authorities continue searching for the second suspect, and prosecutors have indicated that additional or revised charges remain possible once the final autopsy results are available.
