Police: Gang members tried to confront stabbing victim at UMC

By Paul Takahashi

Monday, July 30, 2012 | 7:27 p.m.

Metro Police are investigating a gang-related stabbing at a hookah lounge early Sunday morning that sent one man to University Medical Center, where security guards fought off gang members trying to get to the victim, officials said.

Police officers were called to the 6800 block of Spring Mountain Road — near Spring Valley High School in the western valley — about 4 a.m. on a report of a stabbing that occurred inside a hookah lounge, police said. Responding officers found employees cleaning up the crime scene upon arrival, police said.

The stabbing victim arrived shortly thereafter to UMC Trauma Center, where he was treated for a "life-threatening" stab wound to the torso, police said.

At about 4:30 a.m. several alleged gang members tried to get inside the hospital, but were thwarted by hospital security guards, police said. It is unknown whether the alleged gang members were friends or adversaries of the stabbing victim, police said.

The assailant or assailants are still at large, police said.

The gang-related incident is unrelated to a stabbing that occurred earlier Saturday night that cut short a Tenacious D concert at the House of Blues, police said.

A brawl broke out in the tightly packed crowd at the Las Vegas Strip venue, resulting in two people being transported to UMC with stab wounds that were nonlife-threatening.

The incident caused Tenacious D — a rock-comedy troupe led by comedian Jack Black — to end the scheduled 90-minute show after about 45 minutes. Police are still investigating the stabbings and the assailants are still at large, officials said.

Anyone with information about the incidents can leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or Crime Stoppers of Nevada.