Family demands justice after Las Vegas man shot, killed by police after calling for help during home invasion

A family is demanding justice after a Las Vegas police officer shot and killed 43 year-old Brandon Durham, who called for help during a home invasion.

What happened to Brandon Durham?

The fatal shooting happened last Tuesday, Nov. 12, around 12:40 a.m., the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a news release.

Durham was one of multiple people who called police about a shooting at his home, the police department said.

The 43-year-old was inside his home with his 15-year-old daughter when multiple people entered his home through the front and back doors, authorities said.

Durham had reportedly told his daughter to lock herself in her room and hide, according to television station KSNV.

He then told police he was locking himself in the bathroom, according to authorities.

When police arrive on the scene

Authorities said when officers arrived on the scene, they saw multiple damaged vehicles in the driveway and saw damaged windows on the home. The officers also purportedly heard “screaming and banging” from inside the house.

Alexander Bookman was the first officer to enter the home after kicking the door open, authorities said. Bookman made his way to an L-shaped hallway in the home and once he turned a corner, he reportedly saw Durham and a woman, identified as 31-year-old Alejandra Boudreaux, struggling over a knife.

Bookman reportedly told the pair to drop the knife, then shot his gun, hitting Durham and sending the homeowner and the alleged intruder to the floor. Bookman fired six rounds, authorities said.

Authorities said officers took Boudreaux into custody and tried to perform life saving efforts on Durham, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Brandon Durham’s family demands justice

Durham’s family is struggling to deal with the untimely death of the father, calling the shooting unjust.

Speaking to local Las Vegas media, Durham’s sister Diane Wright said his death makes no sense.

“You shoot him instead of the one that’s in a red hoodie and ski mask?” Wright said to television station KSNV.

His daughter Isabella said she is disgusted with the police department.

“I am disgusted in how the Metropolitan Police told my father, after killing him, to stay down,” she said to KSNV. “Knowing, treating him like he was the suspect in the situation, he was the victim, and I’m disgusted that the Metropolitan Police will allow me to live fatherless for the rest of my life.”

National civil rights attorneys Lee Merritt and Cannon Lambert are working with Durham’s family.

In a press release, the attorneys said they are actively investigating “potential constitutional violations” in the shooting.

Brandon Durham was a realtor, dad

Durham was a realtor for the Signature Realtor Group. He had resided in the Las Vegas area for over 15 years.

His family started a GoFundMe to raise money for memorial expenses, counseling and emotional support.

He leaves behind his girlfriend, his daughter Isabella and a 13-year-old stepson.

Investigation

In the release, police called the incident domestic, indicating the Durham and Boudreaux knew each other.

Boudreaux and Durham met on a dating app a month ago, police said. In an interview with police, Boudreaux said they “had a casual sexual relationship.”

In the hours before the shooting, Boudreaux was at Durham’s house while Durham was not home, police said. Boudreaux then agreed to leave the house and left for the airport. At the airport, Boudreaux learned her ticket was canceled because it was purchased with a stolen card. She then planned to return to Durham’s house.

“While on the way back to Durham’s house, Boudreaux decided that she was going to die,” documents said. “She explained she had been suicidal for a few days and wanted to be shot by the police. Boudreaux stated, ‘I wanted the cops to shoot me dead. And I wanted him to live the wreckage that I caused in his house.’”

Boudreaux then returned to the house and broke the windows of Durham’s home and car with a propane tank, police said. Boudreaux said she grabbed two knives and was attempting to stab herself when she heard the officer fire the shots.

Boudreaux has been charged with one count of performing an act in willful or wanton disregard of safety resulting in death, one count of home invasion with a deadly weapon, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence, as well as one count of child abuse, neglect or endangerment.

The police department said its Critical Incident Review Team is looking into Durham’s killing.