Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 | 7:49 p.m.
A 46-year-old homeless man was shot to death while resting on a sidewalk in front of a Las Vegas cemetery. Metro Police are seeking the public’s help to find the shooter.
The shooting happened about 4:30 a.m. outside the Woodlawn Cemetery, near Las Vegas Boulevard North and East Owens Avenue, Capt. Andy Walsh said during a news conference Thursday afternoon.
Officers found the man on the sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest, Walsh said. The man was taken to an area hospital where he later died, making the 149th homicide investigated by Metro Police.
The man's identity, cause and manner of death will be released by the Clark County Coroner’s Office once his next of kin is notified.
Walsh said that he and other officers working in the downtown area had previously encountered the man during outreaches in the area, which has a large number of homeless people.
Police said there were no witnesses and that they have not identified any suspects, but Walsh is hoping the community will help with leads.
“This isn’t a homeless guy on the side of the street,” Walsh said. “This is a human being.”
He adds, “There isn’t a family in this town that has not been touched by the thing that led him here. Drug addiction, mental issues, there’s a variety of reasons why people come down here … So everyone needs to look at it from that perspective.”
Walsh said he is confident that this homicide won't turn into a cold case if the public works together to solve it.
In a similar incident that happened Oct. 2, a homeless man was stabbed to death by a woman in the same area, according to Metro Police. The woman was arrested on a count of attempted murder.
Walsh said there is a need in the community and encourages those who would like to assist with the homeless to volunteer at the Nevada Homeless Alliance’s “Project Homeless Connect” event on Nov. 15 at the Cashman Center.
The purpose of the event is to provide those who are homeless or at risk for becoming homeless with agencies and organizations that offer housing, job training, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and other services.
Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to call (702) 892-2321 or go online to uwsn.galaxydigital.com/need to register, according to Clark County officials. During last year’s event, about 600 volunteers assisted with nearly 3,500 attendees.
Attendees may check in from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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