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Suspect in custody after homeless man stabbed to death near UNLV

Updated July 21, 2017 - 8:01 pm

An argument between two homeless men Friday afternoon led to the stabbing death of one outside a 99 Cents Only store near UNLV, Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Dan McGrath said.

Surveillance video from a marijuana dispensary on Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway next to the scene shows the suspect, a man in his late 40s, arguing with the victim, who was in his late 30s, McGrath said. Then, the suspect stabbed the victim on the right side of his neck, and the victim dropped to the ground.

“There was no punches thrown. He just strikes him with the knife in the right side of the neck,” McGrath said.

Police happened to be at the intersection where the incident occurred when they were called to the scene just after 1:30 p.m., he said.

When police arrived, the suspect and another homeless man identified as a witness ran. The suspect, who was carrying a knife, was detained, McGrath said.

The victim was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he later died at about 2:30 p.m., according to Metro.

The area is a “hangout” for homeless people, McGrath said.

Obtaining names and contact information for witnesses and suspects can be difficult when those involved are homeless, McGrath said, making those cases harder to solve.

”Sometimes they leave and they’re uncooperative,” he said. “Sometimes we have some unsolved cases.”

The victim’s and suspect’s identities were not available as of Friday evening.

Contact Jessie Bekker at jbekker@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4563. Follow @jessiebekks on Twitter.Contact Bianca Cseke at bcseke@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Follow @biancacseke1 on Twitter.

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