The incident, police say, involved an entire group of people and may have been a case of vigilante justice.
Witnesses say that everything started to go south when a woman’s screams began piercing through the area of the 1000 block of Laurel Avenue. As bystanders became aware of the noise, some called 911 for help, while others rushed to search for the source of the screams.
At around 3:30 P.M., police officers arrived at the scene and promptly discovered a 50-year-old man suffering from stab wounds. The man was slouched over in a back alley. Emergency medical responders immediately attempted lifesaving medical procedures, but they were unsuccessful. The victim was quickly transported to the University Medical Center. Shortly after his arrival, he was declared deceased.
Investigators at the crime scene questioned multiple witnesses. Many of these witnesses described hearing screams, rushing to the alley, and seeing the man allegedly putting the woman in fear for her life. Witnesses say they believed the man was attempting to sexually assault the woman.
When police questioned the 30-year-old female, she confirmed the witness’s reports. She told authorities that the man had already assaulted her in a shed near a dirt lot when she had started to scream. She described the group of vigilantes as rescuing her and causing her abuser to flee into the alley.
That’s where many believe that the man was stabbed to death, but no one came forward to reveal the identity of who committed the act of violence. The bystanders likely felt some sort of solidarity with the vigilante, considering the circumstances of the incident.
While violence is rarely the answer, sometimes it is the only way to preserve life. The law recognizes this fact. One of the most common defense strategies you can deploy when you’ve committed a violent crime is to argue that you were acting in self-defense or the defense of others.
In the situation above, for instance, bystanders who rushed to the aid of the woman could have reasonably assumed that the woman was in fear for her life, as she was screaming for help.
In the heat of the moment, the perpetrator likely acted in response to the screams and with the intent to save the woman. While every case is unique, and this one is still under investigation, it makes sense that the person who committed this act would use “the defense of others” as their defense strategy in court.
Have you recently been accused of committing a violent crime? Were you acting in the interest of preserving your life or the lives of others? Regardless of what happened, anyone accused of a crime has the right to hire an attorney who can help them determine their best defense strategy.
Contact our team here at LV Criminal Defense if you’re looking for a lawyer in the Las Vegas area.