LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Clark County District Attorney’s Office plans to seek a murder charge against Officer Alexander Bookman in connection with the shooting death of Brandon Durham, sources tell Channel 13.
We spoke to those close to Durham's case to learn how they felt about this new development.
This was welcome news for Durham's family.
“I think I’ll cry until I have some sort of closure to know that the person is facing the consequences for their actions and they’re held accountable for the gruesome way in which they took Brandon’s life," said Brand Durham's partner Rachael Gore.
We've reached out to District Attorney Steve Wolfson's office for more information but have not heard back as of Thursday afternoon.
The next step will include Wolfson preparing the charges, then it's up to a grand jury to ultimately decide whether or not to indict Bookman.
It's been months since Channel 13 first told you about this incident, when Durham called 911 on the morning of Nov. 12 to report a home invasion at this house near Sunset Park.
Body-worn camera footage from the shooting showed Durham and the suspect, Alejandra Boudreaux, struggling over a knife.
WATCH body camera footage from the fatal shooting of Brandon Durham:
“It’s just so tragic because he was not even a suspect. He was the man who called for help," said Gore.
Bookman ordered them to drop the knife seconds before shooting Durham in the head. Further investigation would reveal he shot Durham five times after he fell.
Anchor Abel Garcia sat down with David Roger of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association. He's representing Bookman.
“We believe in the criminal justice system and we trust that there will be a fair result at the end of this grand jury," said Roger. “Mr. Durham’s death is tragic, but Officer Bookman was doing his job and we do not believe he committed a crime.”
Ever since the deadly shooting, Durham's family has been searching for accountability.
“So it’s very important that he is indicted, not just indicted but the full process is to where he is sentenced to prison time. That would be true closure for me," said Gore.
Durham family attorney Cannon Lambert Sr. says he hopes Bookman is charged to the fullest extent of the law.
"We do hope the indictment being that is being sought is for first-degree murder. We think that’s appropriate.”
In the weeks after the shooting, it came to light that Bookman had been to Durham's house a day before the shooting. On that day, Durham called police and asked to have Boudreaux escorted off his property.
VIDEO: Body cam footage shows interaction with police 24 hours before the shooting
Attorneys for the Durham family argued that the encounter is proof Bookman should have known Durham was not the suspect when he shot him.
Bookman, 26, was placed on administrative leave while investigations into the shooting were ongoing.
In the more than four months since the shooting, Durham's family members and their attorneys have repeatedly called for Bookman to face charges.
In an initial statement after the shooting, Wolfson said that the process of evaluating the case would likely take weeks, if not months.
Roger tells Channel 13, we are still in the beginning stages of this process. Evidence still needs to be displayed, witnesses can be presented and Bookman could also have the opportunity to testify before the grand jury makes its decision.
We'll update this report as we learn more about this new development.
