The incident to which you're referring fell within an 11-day stretch of violent crimes, both on and off the Strip, some of which involved gang members and others tourists. The attacks, which included shootings, battery, and stabbings, were in the main unrelated and appear to have been in close proximity only by unfortunate coincidence (see QoD 7/12/11.)
Of the sometimes deadly events that fell within that time-frame, none was more unfortunate than the incident at the now-defunct O'Sheas casino that left a 46-year-old Utah man dead. It was on July 6 that Florida high school football coach Benjamin killed John Massie with a single blow to the jaw, apparently as the result of an argument that broke out between the two men in the restroom. Benjamin Gerard Hawkins punched Massie once in the head, claiming self defense. He testified that Massie derided him with racial comments, tapped him repeatedly on the chest and shoulder, and then approached him once again as they headed back, separately, to he casino floor. Hawkins pleaded not guilty to murder when he appeared in court later that week after the Clark County coroner had determined Massie died of the head injury resulting from the punch and his fall to the floor.
On November 29, 2012, just over a week ago, Hawkins appeared back in court in Las Vegas to hear the jury's verdict in the case. They found him guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Hawkins' attorney is hoping for probation for his client but the teacher, who's been on administrative leave from his school job pending the outcome of the case, could face up to four years in state prison. He returns to court Feb. 14, 2013 for sentencing.
