A 60-year-old Nevada man died after police say he was beaten by two men outside a Las Vegas food bank while trying to protect his girlfriend from harassment that began over a cigarette, authorities said.
Background
Scott Dennis and his girlfriend were waiting in line at a Las Vegas food bank when Shiloh Leutu, 38, and another suspect approached the woman asking for a cigarette, according to an arrest report obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and local NBC affiliate KSNV. When she told them she didn't smoke, police say Leutu and his companion began accosting and ridiculing her.
Dennis had stepped out of line momentarily but returned when he saw what was happening, authorities said. He positioned himself between the two men and his girlfriend to shield her from their verbal harassment.
"The victim stepped in and the male struck him in the face causing him to fall to the ground," a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department press release stated. "A second male jumped in and the two continued to beat the victim until the crowd could stop them."
The Charges
Using witness statements and surveillance video, detectives determined that Leutu and the other man attacked Dennis outside the food bank, striking him multiple times and kicking him as he attempted to get up off the ground. Court records show Leutu was initially charged with open murder and battery of an older person resulting in substantial bodily harm.
The Clark County District Attorney's Office decided not to pursue the open murder charge at this time but indicated charges could be amended depending on autopsy report findings, which remain pending. The arrest report notes that the doctor who performed Dennis' autopsy stated that the assault contributed to a heart attack Dennis may have experienced during the altercation.
Leutu was taken into custody on July 15. His alleged accomplice remains at large.
Police said Leutu told detectives that Dennis had put him and the other suspect in headlocks after Dennis hit and kicked them first. However, surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed that Leutu and his companion were the aggressors in the confrontation.
Leutu made a court appearance Monday in Clark County District Court.
Key Takeaways
- Scott Dennis, 60, died following an altercation outside a Las Vegas food bank on July 15
- Shiloh Leutu has been charged with battery of an older person resulting in substantial bodily harm; open murder charge was not pursued by prosecutors
- A second suspect remains at large
- Autopsy findings indicate the assault may have contributed to a heart attack, but official cause of death is pending
- Police say surveillance footage contradicts Leutu's account that Dennis initiated the violence
What's Next
Leutu is due back in Clark County District Court for further proceedings. The investigation into the second suspect continues. Autopsy results and toxicology reports are still being finalized, which could affect charges filed against both men.