‘Absolutely disappointed’: Family of man killed by Las Vegas police frustrated with prosecutors
Relatives of a man killed by Las Vegas police said Wednesday that prosecutors are taking too long to investigate the case.
Brandon Durham, 43, was fatally shot by Metropolitan Police Department officer Alexander Bookman on Nov. 12.
“This is murder,” Durham’s mother, Lenore DeJesus, told reporters at the Regional Justice Center after she met with prosecutors.
She added: “What is taking so long is beyond me. I am absolutely disappointed in the way this has been handled.”
Durham’s family has called for the arrest of Bookman, but in recent history, prosecutions of officers for fatal shootings have been rare and unsuccessful in Clark County.
District attorney Steve Wolfson previously said he was waiting for police to provide him with a review of the shooting and could not yet make a decision on whether to prosecute Bookman.
Wolfson and his office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday morning.
David Roger, counsel for the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, the union representing Bookman, has said, “Officer Bookman was doing his job and did not have criminal intent when he shot to eliminate a threat.”
Roger said he did not have any updates Wednesday.
At the family’s courthouse press conference Wednesday, attorney Lee Merritt, who represents Durham’s family, said they learned that the case file is “98 percent complete” and that within the next few weeks prosecutors will be able to consider it and then make a charging decision.
“We don’t see this as a close call,” he said.
Bookman knew who the perpetrator and homeowner were and made a decision to shoot Durham, then step forward and fire five more shots, said Merritt.
“That is a crime in any jurisdiction,” he said, “and the wait for accountability is becoming frustrating.”
Merritt said that while “there’s been a hedge of protection placed around the officer,” he is “guardedly optimistic” Bookman will be charged.
He said his team hopes the U.S. attorney’s office for Nevada will review the case and is in discussion with Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford’s office. If Wolfson decides not to prosecute, they will “go straight” to Ford’s office, he said.
John Sadler, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office, declined to comment.
Durham was one of nine people killed by Metro officers last year. Bookman was dispatched to Durham’s house a day before the shooting when Durham called police to trespass a visitor.
“I’m so frustrated with this process,” said Rachael Gore, who was Durham’s domestic partner. “I’m so frustrated with the DA’s procrastination to file charges.”
She addressed Wolfson directly: “I hope you’re watching this, Wolfson, and you can think about this at night, think about how my life has been ruined, how my life has been forever changed.”
“We want justice,” said Diane Wright, Durham’s sister. “This is unacceptable.”
Contact Noble Brigham at nbrigham@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BrighamNoble on X
.
