Attorney General Ford responds to calls for special prosecutor in Brandon Durham case
Family seeks state intervention after grand jury declines to indict Las Vegas officer
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford offered condolences but declined to commit to investigating the fatal police shooting of Brandon Durham, whose family has called for state intervention after a Clark County grand jury declined to indict the officer involved.
At a campaign event Monday launching his gubernatorial bid at the East Las Vegas Community Center, Ford was pressed by reporters about the Durham family’s request for a special prosecutor after the grand jury’s decision last week.
“My condolences obviously go out to the Durham family. We received inquiries, as you might imagine. We’re not in a position to be able to comment on those, but my condolences certainly go out to the family,” Ford said.
The fatal shooting
Brandon Durham, 43, was shot and killed in his home on November 12, 2024, by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Alexander Bookman after Durham called 911 to report an intruder. Body camera footage shows Bookman fired seven shots within 14 seconds of entering the home.
Durham was struggling with intruder Alejandra Boudreaux, 31, over a knife when officers arrived. Court documents indicate Durham and Boudreaux were in a romantic relationship, and officers had responded to Durham’s home the previous night for a disturbance involving Boudreaux.
During his 911 call, Durham provided dispatchers with a description of the intruder wearing a red ski mask and repeatedly said someone was trying to kill him.
Grand jury declines charges
After months of proceedings that began in May, a Clark County grand jury declined to indict Officer Bookman on a second-degree murder charge last week. District Attorney Steve Wolfson had given Bookman a Marcum notice in March, indicating the state’s intent to seek an indictment.
The decision represents a rare instance of prosecutors even attempting to charge an officer for an on-duty killing. Legal experts, including Wolfson himself, have noted they cannot recall any recent case where a Las Vegas area police officer was convicted in connection with an on-duty shooting.
Police union defends officer
The Las Vegas Police Protective Association held a press conference Friday defending the grand jury’s decision. David Roger, the union’s attorney, argued Bookman responded to “a tense domestic violence situation” and acted when he believed Boudreaux’s life was threatened.
Roger highlighted that Durham had methamphetamine in his system according to toxicology reports, and that police found drugs in the home. He also pointed to a 911 call Durham made the night before claiming people outside had guns and that family members had been shot—claims investigators found to be false.
“The answer to the public is that when you call the police and they tell you to drop the gun, drop the knife, then do it,” Roger said.
Family seeks justice through multiple avenues
Durham’s family has strongly disputed negative characterizations of their loved one and called the grand jury’s decision “a betrayal of public trust.”
“Officer Bookman murdered Brandon Durham in cold blood. This community deserves transparency, accountability, and justice,” said S. Lee Merritt, the family’s attorney.
The family is pursuing justice through several channels:
- State intervention: Calling on Attorney General Ford to assign a special prosecutor
- Federal charges: Attorneys plan to pursue federal civil rights charges
- Civil lawsuit: A $1 million federal lawsuit filed in April against Metro and Bookman alleging inadequate training and civil rights violations
Durham’s partner, Rachael Gore, emphasized the family’s determination: “The way we’re going to get through this is by using every avenue of the criminal justice system that’s available to us.”
Political implications
The Durham case has emerged as Ford launches his campaign for governor, where he touts his record of working with law enforcement. The Attorney General’s response—or lack thereof—to the family’s request could become a political issue as he seeks higher office.
Ford’s office had not responded to previous inquiries from media about the case before Monday’s campaign event.
Officer remains on leave
While Officer Bookman will not face criminal charges, he remains the subject of an internal Metro investigation and continues on paid administrative leave. The department has not commented on the pending civil litigation.
The case highlights ongoing tensions over police accountability in Las Vegas, where officer-involved shootings rarely result in criminal charges despite community calls for reform.
Image Sources: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/nevada-attorney-general-responds-calls-011705529.html
Category: Local News
Subcategory: Crime/Law Enforcement
Date: 07/29/2025
