LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A group marched through downtown Las Vegas Saturday, calling for justice for 43-year-old Brandon Durham.
Durham was shot and killed by Las Vegas police in his own home after he called for help.
“Justice for Brandon Durham! Justice for Brandon Durham!” the group chanted.
Durham’s family and community say they want the officer held accountable and long-term changes to spare others the same pain.
“I am broken, the family is broken,” said Durham’s friend, Trevon Frederick. “I speak for my friend Brandon Durham. I want justice for him.”
On the 911 call from Nov. 12, Durham describes the intruder as wearing a red hoodie. But when police arrive, Durham is the one who’s shot and killed.
“You didn’t go for the person who had the hoodie on, you didn’t go for the person that looks like a robber. You went for the person that said, ‘help me,’” said Frederick. “And not only one shot, but five?”
“Hands up, don’t shoot! Hands up, don’t shoot!” chanted the group during the march down Fremont Street.
Officer 26-year-old Alexander Bookman has been placed on routine administrative leave pending the investigation.
“It’s unacceptable, and Metro and that officer need to be held accountable for that action,” said Minister Vance “Stretch” Sanders, who organized the march. “If I shot a person five times, I’m going to prison, so it’s no different.”
“We want justice for Brandon! We want justice for Brandon!” chanted the group.
Beyond justice for Durham, community leaders are calling for changes to how Metro vets and trains the police force for interacting with people of color.
“There needs to be training, not just a cop, but in the academy, and if you can’t pass certain tests on racial culture, things like that, then take them off,” said Sanders.
For now, Durham’s friends, family and the Las Vegas community continue to say his name and share his story.
A vigil for Durham is planned for Saturday, Nov. 30.
FOX5 reached out to Metro Police Friday about the rally. We still have not received a response.
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