Las Vegas police: Fatal bar fight started with jukebox dispute

A dispute over jukebox song selection triggered a fatal bar fight early Monday, according to Las Vegas police.

According to Las Vegas police reports, Luis Chavarin was arguing with Phillip Mathews about the music being played at Loose Caboose, a bar near Flamingo Road and Arville Street.

Surveillance video at the bar showed Chavarin was standing at the jukebox about 4:20 a.m. when Mathews approached him from behind.

Chavarin told police that Mathews began to “push his buttons” and cuss at him. Chavarin was afraid he would be “sucker-punched” by Mathews.

Chavarin, who has trained as a boxer, told police that he punched Mathews twice and then “blacked out.”

The video showed Chavarin’s friend, Daniel Rosales, trying to pull him away from Mathews. Chavarin and Mathews fell to the floor and witnesses were able to pull Chavarin away.

The next thing Chavarin remembers after punching Mathews was seeing him lying on the floor, “blue and twitching,” police reports said.

Chavarin told police he then checked Mathews’ pulse and turned him on his side in case he was choking on blood. Witnesses confirmed that the suspect tried to help Mathews.

When police arrived they found Mathews unresponsive on the floor. He was transported to University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 4:55 a.m.

Police arrested Chavarin on charges of murder. He is awaiting trial.

Contact reporter Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0391.