Family ‘elated’: Indictment sought for Las Vegas police officer who killed homeowner

The Clark County district attorney’s office is expected to seek an indictment of a Las Vegas police officer who shot and killed a man in the man’s home last year, according to an attorney for the officer.

Metropolitan Police Department officer Alexander Bookman fatally shot Brandon Durham, 43, in November after Durham called police to report a burglary.

If a grand jury indicts Bookman, it would be an extraordinary action.

Prosecutions of officers for fatal shootings have been rare and unsuccessful in recent Clark County history. Experienced attorneys, including District Attorney Steve Wolfson, have said they could not think of any case in recent history when a Las Vegas area police officer was convicted in connection with an on-duty killing.

David Roger, counsel for the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, the union representing Bookman, said Thursday that the district attorney’s office called to inform him that a Marcum notice for Bookman was on its way.

Prosecutors use those notices to let a defendant know they plan to take a case to a grand jury to seek an indictment.

“We have faith in the criminal justice system and believe officer Bookman will be treated justly,” Roger said.

Roger has previously said Bookman “was doing his job and did not have criminal intent when he shot to eliminate a threat.”

The district attorney’s office declined to comment, citing a law that specifies the secrecy of grand jury proceedings.

In a statement, Metro said the department “is aware of reports that the Clark County District Attorney intends to send a case involving Officer Alexander Bookman to a grand jury.”

Police said they will not make additional statements while the case goes through the legal process so as not to influence grand jurors.

Family: ‘Elated with this decision’

Durham’s family had demanded the arrest of Bookman.

“I am elated with this decision,” Durham’s sister, Diane Wright, said Thursday. “It’s excellent news. It’s sounding like the wheels of justice are finally starting to turn.”

Bookman “should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” she said.

Durham’s mother, Lenore DeJesus, said, “I’m glad to see that it’s finally moving forward, that we will finally get the justice we deserve for his murder.”

She hopes the grand jury will charge Bookman with murder, she said. According to DeJesus, Wolfson told family attorneys he had reviewed the case and planned to send it to a grand jury, but they didn’t know when that would happen.

She said she found out Thursday from the news media.

“Officer Bookman needs to be held accountable for what he did,” she said.

Bookman, 26, fatally shot Durham on Nov. 12 at Durham’s home in the 6900 block of Wine River Drive, near Eastern Avenue and Warm Springs Road. Durham had called 911 at about 12:40 a.m. to report a break-in at his home.

Inside the home, police have said, Bookman found Durham and Alejandra Boudreaux, 31, who appeared to be struggling over a knife.

Bookman yelled “drop the knife” and in less than two seconds opened fire, according to body camera footage. In the footage, Bookman fired his gun and continued shooting Durham as he and Boudreaux fell.

Autopsy and toxicology reports showed Durham suffered seven gunshot wounds and had methamphetamine and amphetamine in his system.

Boudreaux was indicted in December on charges of home invasion with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon constituting domestic violence, child abuse or endangerment and fourth-degree arson.

Past police shootings

Over the past 35 years, the Review-Journal previously reported, multiple Metro shootings have sparked public outcry. After a series of 2011 shootings, the U.S. Department of Justice reviewed Metro’s use of force and recommended changes that helped shape the department’s current procedures.

In a 1996 case, two Metro officers — Christopher Brady and Ron Mortensen — received prison time in connection with an off-duty shooting that killed Daniel Mendoza, 21.

In another case, Raynaldo John Ruiz Ramos, a High Desert State Prison correctional officer trainee charged in an inmate’s 2014 shooting death, was sentenced to 30 days in jail with credit for time served.

Charles Bush, 39, was choked to death after three Metro officers entered his apartment without a warrant in 1990. A jury at a coroner’s inquest ruled the death “justifiable.” Rex Bell, the district attorney at the time, said the officers, Gerald Amerson, Thomas Chasey and Michael Campbell, would not be charged.

In an unusual move, the Nevada attorney general’s office attempted to prosecute the three officers on charges of involuntary manslaughter and oppression under the color of office, but the case ended in a mistrial.

Contact Noble Brigham at nbrigham@reviewjournal.com.