Man shot in downtown Las Vegas

A man was shot on the corner of Fremont and 14th streets about 11:20 a.m. Friday, according to Las Vegas police.

He was taken to University Medical Center, officer Laura Meltzer, a Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman. He was in critical condition and had to have surgery.

Police had little information about the shooting as of Friday afternoon. Witnesses on the scene were giving conflicting testimonies, officer Michael Rodriguez said.

But Geoffrey Rush, who witnessed the shooting's aftermath from his second-story room at the Las Vegas Hostel across the street, said the man was older.

He said he heard about five gunshots and looked out to see the man staggering, covered in blood, near a light pole on the corner in front of the Siegel Suites Fremont II, 1401 Fremont St..

The man took about five steps and collapsed and another man went running west up Fremont, screaming for help, Rush said.

"I've never been that close to a scene with so much violence or that much blood," Rush said. "In the daylight it was surprising to see that much violence."

Rush said he was relieved to see that the man was still moving as he was put into the ambulance.

Rounds from the shooting traveled across Fremont, piercing the storefront wall of the Fremont Mini Mart convenience store, 1404 Fremont St.

A dark-colored or black SUV was seen leaving the area and may be connected to the shooting, police said.

"It's definitely something that's going to be hard to forget," Rush said.

Contact Lawren Linehan at llinehan@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @lawrenlinehan. Contact Wesley Juhl at wjuhl@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0391. Find him on Twitter: @WesJuhl