Coroner rules Las Vegas bartender’s April death a homicide

The decease of a bartender aft a combat with an intoxicated patron was ruled a homicide Tuesday.

Mark Heilman, 60, of Las Vegas, died April 26 astatine Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center from cardiovascular disease, diabetes and a “recent carnal altercation,” according to the coroner’s office, which said his decease was ruled a homicide.

Heilman worked the plaything displacement arsenic a bartender astatine Champagnes Cafe, 3557 S. Maryland Parkway. Owner Greg Sims said Heilman refused to service an intoxicated antheral who went down the barroom and started a “scuffle.”

“Mark had a atrocious heart, and astir instantly aft it was implicit helium had occupation breathing,” Sims said. “From the clip the feline walked successful the doorway to the clip the paramedics walked successful the doorway was 20 minutes.”

Heilman’s husband, Lawrence Guerra, acceptable up an online fundraiser aft his partner’s death. Guerra said Heilman was the youngest, and past surviving sibling, among 5 children.

“He was precise arrogant of being a nonrecreational bartender/server successful Las Vegas for implicit 35 years and his customers were his biggest fans,” Guerra wrote successful the post. “They would halt successful from astir the state to wherever helium was moving to spot him erstwhile they visited. His locals knew they could ever perceive a caller communicative astir “Old Vegas” erstwhile they came in.”

Guerra said the mates would person celebrated 25 years unneurotic successful May.

Las Vegas constabulary could not instantly beryllium reached for comment. It was unclear if immoderate arrests had been made successful transportation with the killing.

Contact Sabrina Schnur astatine sschnur@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-383-0278. Follow @sabrina_schnur connected Twitter.