Mom sues in police shooting death of woman

A California woman is pursuing a lawsuit on behalf of her daughter, who was shot and killed by police in 2007 after a disturbance complaint at a fast-food restaurant, according to federal court records.

Betty Fowler contends that Las Vegas police officers used excessive force when they shot Denise Nicole Glasco in front of her 3-year-old son as the two walked away from a Jack-in-the-Box restaurant near Lake Mead and Martin Luther King boulevards on June 12, 2007.

Officers went to the restaurant after an employee reported that a woman had pulled a knife on a teenage customer, according to police.

When officers arrived, they spotted Glasco and her son walking along the street. Police said Glasco was wielding a knife and attempting to get into vehicles driving along Martin Luther King Boulevard.

After Glasco ignored their commands, officers doused her with pepper spray and then fired Taser guns and bean bag guns, according to police.

When she still failed to drop the knife, officers shot her, an act Fowler said was "intentional, malicious, oppressive and unlawful."

An autopsy showed Glasco had PCP in her system.

A coroner's inquest jury ruled that officers were justified in the shooting after a hearing held in August 2007.

The lawsuit filed last week by Fowler, a San Bernardino resident, claims Glasco had done nothing wrong.

"Denise did not threaten the officers or approach the officers," the lawsuit states. "At all times relevant, she was attempting to walk away from the officers."

The lawsuit claims the officers' supervisors did not adequately investigate the incident.

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.