Homeless man charged with manslaughter after fight that killed friend

By Alison Saclolo

Published Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013 | 2:08 p.m.

Updated Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013 | 2:50 p.m.

A 31-year-old transient has been formally charged in the Aug. 4 death of his friend of four years.

Israel Benitez-Barrera was charged with voluntary manslaughter in the death of Adam Hilty, according to the Clark County District Attorney's Office.

A Metro Police report said Benitez-Barrera, 31, and Hilty, 51, were embroiled in an argument about midnight Aug. 4 near Palm Street and Center Drive when the fight turned physical.

At one point, Hilty was on his hands and knees and Benitez-Barrera hit him with a flurry of punches to his back and sides, the report said.

Hilty told Benitez-Barrera to stop and that he was done fighting. Benitez-Barrera complied and went to sleep, according to the report.

The report said police later arrived at the scene on a disturbance call and discovered Hilty had died. When authorities woke Benitez-Barrera and questioned him, he said he did not know what happened.

The Clark County Coroner's Office said Hilty died of a lacerated spleen. The coroner also found numerous bruises on Hilty's back and sides, the report said.

After witnesses contacted the police and provided new information on Aug. 9, authorities interrogated Benitez-Barrera and arrested him.

He remains in the Clark County Detention Center on $30,000 bond and is scheduled to appear Aug. 27 in Las Vegas Justice Court.