Man killed after fight over $3 debt

Cathy Scott

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 1998 | 10:05 a.m.

A homeless man was killed Tuesday night when he ran into the path of a car while being chased by another man he had fought with over a $3 debt, Metro Police said.

Sgt. Steve Custer said that several men were taking refuge from the rain under the Interstate 15 overpass about 10:45 p.m. Witnesses told police that one of the men told the victim that he owed him $3. They argued, and the man chased the victim with a steel bar, Custer said. The victim ran onto Sahara Avenue and into the path of a 1989 Dodge Aries, police said.

The victim struck the hood, windshield and roof of the car before being thrown onto the street, police said. He suffered head and face injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, Charles Brown, 45, of Las Vegas, was injured from the impact of the man being thrown into the windshield, police said. He was taken to University Medical Center with moderate injuries, police said.

The man who chased the victim fled on a bicycle from the scene, police said. He was described as a 5-foot-9 bearded black man. He was wearing a brown leather bomber jacket and blue jeans, and was last seen riding a bicycle east on Sahara.

The accident was under investigation by the traffic accident investigations section, police said.