‘He spent his time giving’: Friends mourn man struck, killed trying to stop vehicle theft

Friends are remembering Robert "Bob" Henze as a kind and generous man after he was struck and killed Tuesday while trying to stop a vehicle theft near East Harmon Avenue and South Nellis Boulevard. According to Metropolitan Police, a suspect stole a running, unoccupied vehicle from a driveway in the 4600 block of Glenn Davis Drive late Tuesday morning. As the suspect drove away, he struck Henze, who was attempting to intervene. Henze died at the scene from blunt force injuries, and the Clark County coroner's office ruled his death a homicide. The vehicle was later recovered, but the suspect remains at large.

Eric Cifani, who knew Henze for more than a decade, described him as a talented builder and volunteer who was not confrontational. "He was a talented builder in many mediums, and he was just happy to volunteer his time toward anything he thought was worth helping," Cifani said. "That's who he was. He spent his time giving to this community." Cifani suspected Henze had tried to reason with the driver before he was struck. Henze had been looking forward to starting as a volunteer trail keeper at Wetlands Park and was building a ranch in Moapa.

Tributes also poured in from the Las Vegas Burning Man community, where Henze was a regular. Melissa Sue wrote that Henze was there for friends and strangers alike, always ready with a helping hand, advice, or a word of support. "Our community is reeling as the news ripples from house to heart," Sue wrote. "His death was senseless which adds to the bewilderment." Cifani urged anyone with information to come forward and called on Metro to give its best effort to bring Henze's killer to justice.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal