Family of 911 caller—shot dead by Vegas police—seeks officer's arrest
What's the story
The family of Brandon Durham, a 43-year-old realtor shot dead by police in his own home, is demanding the arrest of the cop involved. Durham had called 911 to report a break-in and gunfire at his residence. On arrival, officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department found him struggling with a woman over a knife. Officer Alexander Bookman, who joined the department in 2021, shouted "drop the knife" before firing at Durham.
Controversial shooting
Officer's response to 911 call under scrutiny
Body-camera footage reveals Bookman fired within seconds of arriving and continued shooting as Durham fell. Civil rights attorney Lee Merritt, who represents Durham's family, contends there was no justification for using deadly force. "Brandon was found in his hallway to his bedroom, in his underwear, asking for help while an assailant attempted to stab him using a large knife," Merritt said. He stressed the officer wasn't in harm's way.
Arrest and charges
Woman involved in incident arrested, charged
The woman involved in the incident, Alejandra Boudreaux, has been arrested and charged with home invasion with a deadly weapon among other offenses. Police confirmed that Durham and Boudreaux had a "domestic" relationship. Boudreaux claimed she was suicidal and intended for police to kill her during the incident. Durham's daughter Isabella expressed her disgust with the police response, criticizing how they treated her father as a suspect rather than a victim.
Ongoing investigation
Investigation into Durham's death underway
Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren said the investigation is ongoing and stressed how seriously they take such incidents. The district attorney told Durham's family that the investigation could take up to 90 days and promised prosecution if warranted. Durham's sister Diane Wright said she was horrified over her brother's death and called him dedicated to his loved ones. She said watching footage of the incident was traumatic and called for justice for her brother.