Man in jail after attack on homeless person ‘decoy’ in downtown Las Vegas

Las Vegas Review Journal ^ | 3/3/17 | DAVID FERRARA

[mac_truck]

A mannequin, covered with blankets and positioned to resemble a homeless person sleeping on the sidewalk, was attacked with a hammer near downtown Las Vegas.

The suspect told Las Vegas police he knew it wasn’t a human.

But homicide detectives who staged the mannequin scene say they believe 30-year-old Shane Schindler was out to kill.

Two homeless men were bludgeoned to death within a month’s time earlier this year, and Schindler’s arrest report indicates that he attacked the police decoy in a similar fashion.

Schindler appeared in court this week, facing one count of carrying a concealed weapon.

[grumpygresh]

The “crime” against the mannequin is nothing. The idea is to get blood, fingerprint, DNA evidence on this guy and possibly link it to the other murders.

[Yogafist]

If this guy was stupid enough to commit the crime in such a predictable fashion that they could lure him like this, they should have no problem finding evidence to tie him to the others.

[cornfedcowboy]

If they outlaw hammers only hammers will have outlaws. Ball Peen, Claw, even Ice Picks.

[mac_truck]

They now have a suspect linked to two murders by his proximity & actions...no one cares if he’s guilty of murdering mannequins if they indict him for double homicide

Exactly, not to mention the murder weapon if the same hammer used to attack the mannequin was used to kill the other two homeless men.

I'd prosecute this guy for murder either way.

[ilovesarah2012]

Right out of Criminal Minds.

[ilovesarah2012]

Jurors often use common sense. Slam dunk.

[Larry Lucido]

While not a humorous story, this occurrence might take some heat off of any current suspects (since the murderer struck again).

Although copycats do exist.

[KarlInOhio]

No, but attempted murder, maybe.

And the cops could now take that hammer into evidence. If it has blood from the murder victims on it, Schindler should be on his way to Old Sparky Old Jabby.

[Varmint Al]

It was obviously an assault hammer.

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al

[Rebelbase]

Engineer's hammer.

When I was in school we called them crack hammers for obvious reason.

[SaveFerris]

[ The suspect told Las Vegas police he knew it wasn’t a human. ]

Which, of course, is why he needed the hammer. In case the mannequin was gonna shoot him. Or stab him or something. Maybe force him to buy that sweet J-Crew, oops, J Peterman jacket.