District Attorney: FBI agents ‘acted lawfully’ in 2012 shooting

The FBI agents involved in last year’s shooting of Joshua Oscar Burchell acted reasonably and lawfully, the Clark County district attorney’s office announced Monday.

Burchell was a suspect for an earlier murder and had outstanding warrants for his arrest in Clark County and California when federal agents tracked him to Arizona Charlie’s Hotel and Casino at 4575 Boulder Highway Aug. 12, 2012.

When the agents tried to arrest him, Burchell ran, then pulled out a gun in the parking lot and aimed it at his pursuers, who shot and killed him, according to the district attorney.

“Mr. Burchell was armed and dangerous when he fled from law enforcement agents and then confronted them in a hotel parking lot, leaving them no choice but to use deadly force,” District Attorney Steve Wolfson said in a press release. “Mr. Burchell’s actions created a dangerous situation for the public and the agents.”

A Police Fatality Fact Finding Review was not required by law because federal law enforcement agents were involved.

Contact Rochel Leah Goldblatt at rgoldblatt@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381.