A Las Vegas man lost his life after seeking help from police during a home invasion, prompting outrage from his family and renewed scrutiny of law enforcement practices.
Police Fatally Shoot Las Vegas Man Who Called 911 for Help
Police Fatally Shoot Las Vegas Man Who Called 911 for Help
Tragic incident raises questions about police response and accountability.
The chaotic events unfolded on November 12 when Brandon Durham, 43, called 911, reporting an attempted break-in at his home. According to police, Durham was wrestling with an intruder—a woman identified as Alejandra Boudreaux—when officers arrived. As they approached, Officer Alexander Bookman, 26, kicked down the door, weapon drawn, responding to the sounds of struggle from inside.
Body camera footage shows Bookman commanding both individuals to drop a knife seconds before he opened fire. Durham was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene. Boudreaux was taken into custody and faces charges including home invasion.
Durham's daughter, 15, expressed her deep anger, accusing the police of viewing her father as the suspect instead of the victim. “I am disgusted the police told my father to stay down after killing him," she remarked. The family has called for accountability, insisting that Officer Bookman should face criminal charges.
The police department has stated that Bookman has been placed on paid administrative leave as an internal review is conducted. His attorney defended him, saying he was acting within the law and did not intend for a crime to occur. The incident has reignited discussions on how police engage in similar life-threatening situations, leading to calls for reform in how they respond to domestic disturbance calls.
Local reports indicate that Durham and Boudreaux had a previous relationship, and police found no weapon at the scene despite initial claims of gunfire. The incident highlights growing frustrations over police shootings, occurring shortly before a separate investigation into a similar fatal shooting in Illinois.
In light of this tragedy, community members and advocates are pushing for better protocols to prevent such incidents, emphasizing the need for law enforcement to reassess how they handle calls for emergency assistance.
Body camera footage shows Bookman commanding both individuals to drop a knife seconds before he opened fire. Durham was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene. Boudreaux was taken into custody and faces charges including home invasion.
Durham's daughter, 15, expressed her deep anger, accusing the police of viewing her father as the suspect instead of the victim. “I am disgusted the police told my father to stay down after killing him," she remarked. The family has called for accountability, insisting that Officer Bookman should face criminal charges.
The police department has stated that Bookman has been placed on paid administrative leave as an internal review is conducted. His attorney defended him, saying he was acting within the law and did not intend for a crime to occur. The incident has reignited discussions on how police engage in similar life-threatening situations, leading to calls for reform in how they respond to domestic disturbance calls.
Local reports indicate that Durham and Boudreaux had a previous relationship, and police found no weapon at the scene despite initial claims of gunfire. The incident highlights growing frustrations over police shootings, occurring shortly before a separate investigation into a similar fatal shooting in Illinois.
In light of this tragedy, community members and advocates are pushing for better protocols to prevent such incidents, emphasizing the need for law enforcement to reassess how they handle calls for emergency assistance.
