(Image via news.sky.com)
Staff Writer: Akshit Bagga
Email: abagga@umassd.edu
First responders shot a man in Vegas after he made a distressing call to report a trespassing attempt at his residence.
On November 12, 43-year-old Las Vegas resident Brandon Durham was home with his 15-year-old daughter when they noticed someone trying to break into their house. Brandon called 911 to report the crime, mentioned that he was hiding with his daughter, and pleaded for help.
Once the cops arrived at the house, they saw Durham in the hallway struggling with the intruder over a knife. Yelling at Durham to drop the knife, the officer fired one round from his firearm.
The bullet hit Durham, resulting in his death at his home.
The officer who shot Durham is identified as 26-year-old Alexander Bookman. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has mentioned that an internal review has been ordered to investigate the circumstances causing the incident. Alexander has been sent on paid administrative leave following the case.
Durham’s daughter, Isabella, said,
“I’m disgusted that the Metropolitan Police will allow me to live fatherless for the rest of my life.”
The intruder has been identified as 31-year-old Alejandra Boudreaux.
Bodycam footage of the incident has been released. Police mentioned that Durham had initially called 911 to report an intrusion, suspecting two people shooting at and attempting to break into the house.
Footage shows officers responding to the call, reaching the house, and finding wrecked cars. Noticing the damage to the cars and the house, LVPD’s Bookman stormed in through the front door of the house.
Walking through the house with his weapon drawn and turning in the L-shaped hallway of the house, the officer found a shirtless Brandon struggling over a knife with Alejandra, who was wearing a red hoodie and a ski mask.
While Bookman yelled to back off and ease the situation, he promptly fired a shot that hit Durham and sent both Durham and Boudreaux onto the floor. The officer later walked towards Durham and fired five more shots at him.
A police report suggests that Brandon and Alejandra were previously in a romantic relationship. Alejandra has been arrested and charged with home invasion and assault.
Lee Merritt, a civil rights attorney representing Durham’s family, said,
Mr. Durham was not threatening anyone. There’s no justification for the use of force against Mr. Durham.
An officer needs to justify the use of force against a suspect. In this case, the officer continued to fire successive shots after the first one, even when the person was down.
The family of the deceased has been demanding charges to be pressed against the officer. David Roger, representing the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, said, “Unlike a civil case, in which an individual’s negligence is at issue, criminal cases require proof of a person’s criminal intent.”
Roger continued, “While Mr. Durham’s death is tragic, Officer Bookman was doing his job and did not intend to commit a crime.”
Earlier this year, in July, a similar case was reported in Illinois. 36-year-old Sonya Massey called 911 over Independence Day weekend to report an intrusion.
Officers followed her into the house, and while she was searching for her identification and simultaneously taking care of household chores, a police officer shot her, suspecting an attack.
The officer was sacked from duty and has been charged with murder and official misconduct. This case also drew attention from the White House, with President Biden mentioning that he was “heartbroken.”
The officer pleaded not guilty in this case.
Unfortunately, Durham and other incidents continue to bring back police shootings and policing reforms to the spotlight. Officer Brookman is underway to trial, where justice will hopefully be served.