Report: ‘I accidentally killed him,’ suspect in downtown Las Vegas slaying told police

A 52-year-old Las Vegas man accused in the downtown beating death of another man told police the killing was an accident, according to an arrest report.

Paul Campillo was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department on Aug. 13, the same day as the death, on a charge of open murder.

“I accidentally killed him … it was a f——— accident, bro,” Campillo said in an interview with Metro detectives, the arrest report stated. “I didn’t mean to kill him.”

The report details the allegations against Campillo. At 6:15 p.m. on Aug. 13, a witness called 911 to report that a man was on the ground in the area of Main Street and Bridger Avenue after being battered with a beer can. When officers responded to the scene, they located the victim, later identified by the Clark County coroner’s office as 65-year-old Michael Madden, lying in the middle of the road between the Golden Nugget and Bridger Inn Hotel.

The report describes video footage from the Golden Nugget, which appears to show Campillo and the victim speaking behind the Bridger Inn Hotel. The man walked away, and Campillo followed him.

According to the report, Campillo punched the man, causing him to drop his belongings. After another punch by Campillo, the man then swung back in self-defense, but fell to the ground, police said.

The report says Campillo mounted the victim and continued to strike him, eventually hitting him in the face with a tall Steel Reserve beer can. He then stomped on his head before walking away and entering the Golden Nugget, the report said.

A Golden Nugget security manager told Metro that he heard a man matching the description of a suspect — later identified as Campillo — say, “I punched a homeless guy in the face over there,” while pointing in the direction of First Street and Bridger Avenue.

Another Golden Nugget security employee later said that a photograph of the man police had taken into custody depicted the same man he had heard repeatedly say, “I’m sorry,” and “I went too far,” according to the report.

The security manager handcuffed Campillo before turning him over to a Metro patrol officer, who took him to the Clark County Detention Center. Police said Campillo appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.

The victim was taken to University Medical Center, where he was declared dead at 6:54 p.m.

Las Vegas Justice Court records show Campillo’s criminal history includes more than 125 citations and arrests on charges such as assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, burglary and grand larceny, among others.

Contact Kalohe Danbara at kdanbara@reviewjournal.com.