Homeless people in Las Vegas are being killed by a hitman.
In a shocking video a homeless man James Edgar Lewis is sleeping under a Las Vegas freeway when a dark-coloured SUV passes by. Seconds later, a man wearing a dark top emerges from the vehicle and shoots Lewis twice in the head before fleeing.
Lt. Dan McGrath of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police (LVMPD) in a statement said “There is no struggle, no fight. Lewis never even appears to wake up.
It’s basically an execution,”
This is one murder in a chain of killings, four days earlier another homeless man was shot and killed. On January 29, Brian Clegg was shot and killed, also while sleeping, in front of a business on a busy street.
LVMPD spokeswoman Laura Meltzer said “There is a possibility that these two incidents are related. A homeless person was sleeping when the person shot them.”
The video of Lewis being shot was released on the LVMPD Facebook page “cold-blooded killing” with a message that anyone with evidence or information to come forward. The video is disturbing and has a warning on it.
Meltzer added “Police are canvassing the areas surrounding the shootings and asking residents to check their home surveillance cameras for footage of a dark-coloured SUV or a male in a dark hoodie, which was what the suspect was wearing when he shot Clegg.
“Our patrol sector and investigative detail are attempting to solve these crimes with an increased presence in areas where we have large numbers of homeless people,” Meltzer said. “We never quite know where that piece of information is going to come from that can solve these cases.”
The LVMPD Office of Community and Engagement have told the city’s homeless population to be wary.
“They’re letting them know that these events have taken place and encouraging them to utilize our homeless shelters.” Meltzer said.
Las Vegas residents who knew Lewis are saddened by the shooting some of Lewis’ friends expressed grief over his death. A tearful, Debbie Perez, a friend of Lewis said on CNN
“Why would they do that to him? He was such a nice person.”
Melissa Harris, a well-wisher who took her children to place candles near scene of the crime, stated Lewis, known as “Pops,” was a familiar sight around town, often riding his bicycle and collecting cans.
“He’d sleep here every night. He never bothered anybody.”