Red Rock, Henderson police fatal shootings ruled justified — VIDEO

The Clark County District Attorney’s office Friday announced that a pair of officer-involved shooting deaths were justified, including the February 2014 killing of a man at Red Rock Canyon.

Bureau of Land Management rangers shot and killed 20-year-old Los Angeles resident D’Andre Berghardt on Feb. 14, 2014. The BLM had received calls about Berghardt harassing bicyclists on State Route 159, near Red Rock. A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper was also on the scene, but did not fire his weapon.

Berghardt pulled a flat-head screwdriver from his pocket and resisted officers’ attempts to detain him, the DA’s report said. A previous Review-Journal story reported that authorities found the screwdriver after Berghardt was dead.

The man was heard saying “Just shoot me in the head,” the DA’s report said, and “I’m going to get your gun and shoot you.”

Rangers used different methods on Berghardt, the district attorney said. They tased him twice, pepper-sprayed and hit him with a baton as he tried getting into two occupied vehicles stopped on the highway.

Bystanders caught much of the violence on video.

BLM rangers fired at Berghardt 13 times after he jumped into the NHP trooper’s running vehicle and tried to take an AR-15 rifle that was locked inside, the DA said. Seven of the shots his Berghardt.

Toxicology reports showed that Berghardt had Delta-9 THC, a schedule I hallucinogen, in his system, the DA said. The hallucinogen is known for having depressant and reality distorting effects.

A Clark County police fatality public fact-finding review in the Berghardt case happened March 2. It’s not a trial, however, but a hearing aimed at airing evidence about a shooting.

The DA also announced Friday that the officer-involved killing of 37-year-old Henderson resident Ryan Marone was justified.

On June 11, Henderson police officers were called out to a home in the 400 block of Flat Plains Avenue, near Horizon Ridge Parkway and Gibson Road, after reports of gunshots. Marone, who refused officers’ commands, walked out of his parents’ home at 489 Flat Plains Ave. with a handgun and fired at police, wounding officer Timothy Donnelly in the hip.

Donelly and officers Carlos Chorens, Troy McDermed and David Woolman returned fire, killing Marone.

An investigation showed that Marone had previously been addicted to heroin and continued to have an alcohol problem, the DA said. Toxicology reports showed high levels of methamphetamine and hydrocodone, and a blood-alcohol level of .114, in Marone’s system, the report stated. His wife had recently left him and moved with their daughter out of state after a reported domestic violence incident.

District Attorney Steve Wolfson said in the report that Marone’s family used the phrase “suicide by cop.”

The public fact-finding review for Marone’s death was March 9.

Contact reporter Cassandra Taloma at ctaloma@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @CassandraTaloma