Las Vegas Community Demands Justice Following Fatal Police Shooting

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Human rights activists in Las Vegas are organizing a rally to march along Fremont Street in memory of Brandon Durham, who was fatally shot by a police officer. The demonstration is scheduled to take place at Las Vegas City Hall on Saturday, November 23, as the community seeks justice for Durham following the incident involving the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

The shooting occurred last week when Brandon Durham, a 43-year-old father, was killed by Officer Alexander Bookman in his home after Durham called 911 for assistance. Durham’s family is demanding the arrest and criminal indictment of Officer Bookman, though Bookman’s attorney contends that the officer committed no crime.

According to Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department received multiple calls early on November 12 about a shooting on Wine River Drive, where Durham reported that there were intruders and shots fired at his home. Upon arrival, officers found signs of damage and disturbance, including screaming from inside the house. Officer Bookman entered the home and found Durham and Alejandra Boudreaux, who was reportedly in a relationship with Durham, in a confrontation over a knife.

Body-worn camera footage showed Officer Bookman firing a shot after ordering them to «Drop the knife!» hitting Durham before firing additional shots. The footage did not clarify if Durham or Boudreaux was holding the knife at the time of the shooting. Boudreaux allegedly told the officer, «he shot the wrong person» according to the arrest report.

Efforts to save Durham’s life at the scene were unsuccessful, and his death was declared, marking the eighth fatal officer-involved shooting by the department this year. The incident has sparked protests similar to other cases across the United States where individuals calling 911 for help have encountered police shootings.

Lee Merritt, the attorney representing the Durham family, called for an immediate arrest warrant against Officer Bookman, while the officer’s legal counsel, David Roger, argued that the case involved no criminal intent as Bookman was performing his duty.

The Clark County District Attorney, Steven Wolfson, noted that the investigation into the shooting remains in its early stages. He emphasized that it would take weeks or months for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to complete their internal review, foregoing any premature judgments on potential criminal charges.

Further details from a police report revealed that Boudreaux had broken into Durham’s home that day, allegedly with suicidal intentions, and had engaged in a struggle with him over a kitchen knife. Boudreaux, who is facing several charges including assault with a deadly weapon and home invasion, stated that her actions were not intended to harm Durham but to prompt a police response, which resulted in the tragic outcome.

The tragic events have placed Officer Bookman on administrative leave pending the internal investigation by the police department’s critical incident review team. The community continues to advocate for justice in Durham’s memory as the complex case unfolds.