Las Vegas man killed by police after 911 call

A 43-year-old father, Brandon Durham, was fatally shot by a Las Vegas police officer after calling 911 to report an attempted home invasion. The incident, which took place on November 12, has sparked outrage, particularly from Mr. Durham’s family, and reignited discussions about police shootings and accountability.

The tragedy unfolded when Mr. Durham called 911 to report that two individuals were shooting outside and attempting to break into his home. His 15-year-old daughter was hiding in a nearby room during the chaos. Responding officers found evidence of a disturbance, including cars with broken windows and damage to the house. According to police, yelling from inside prompted Officer Alexander Bookman, 26, to kick down the front door.

Body camera footage released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department shows Officer Bookman entering the home with his gun drawn. In a hallway, he encountered Mr. Durham, who was shirtless and wrestling with a masked woman, later identified as 31-year-old Alejandra Boudreaux, over a knife. Officer Bookman shouted commands to drop the knife before firing one shot, hitting Mr. Durham. Seconds later, Bookman fired five additional shots at Mr. Durham as he and Ms. Boudreaux fell to the ground.

Mr. Durham was declared dead at the scene. Ms. Boudreaux was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including home invasion with a deadly weapon. Police have confirmed that no gun was found at the scene, despite initial reports of shots fired outside the home.

Mr. Durham’s teenage daughter has strongly criticized the actions of the police, stating that they treated her father as a suspect instead of a victim. She expressed anger and heartbreak over the incident, highlighting the impact it has had on her life and accusing the police of leaving her to face the future without her father.

The family’s attorney is calling for an immediate arrest warrant for Officer Bookman, who has been placed on paid administrative leave while an internal investigation is conducted. The family is also demanding greater accountability and reforms within the police department.

A lawyer representing Officer Bookman asserted that he acted within the scope of his duties and had not committed any crime. David Roger, general counsel for the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, defended the officer’s actions, emphasizing that criminal charges require evidence of intent to commit a crime, which he argued was not present in this case. Roger described Mr. Durham’s death as a tragic outcome but maintained that Officer Bookman was fulfilling his responsibilities as a law enforcement officer.

The incident comes just days before the U.S. Justice Department launched an investigation into the death of Sonya Massey, a woman fatally shot by police in Illinois under similar circumstances after calling for help. The parallels between the two cases have renewed public demands for police reform and the reevaluation of protocols in responding to 911 calls.

Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren confirmed that Mr. Durham and Ms. Boudreaux were previously in a romantic relationship, adding another layer of complexity to the case. The investigation remains ongoing as the community awaits answers and accountability for this tragic loss.