Community members took to the streets of downtown Las Vegas in a rally for Brandon Durham, a local realtor shot by a Las Vegas Metro Police officer during a home invasion incident. The rally took place yesterday, moving from City Hall to Fremont Street, with demonstrators calling for accountability and justice for Durham, who was killed on November 12 after reporting a home invasion.
According to a statement obtained by KTNV, Durham's friend Traevon Frederick said at the rally, "He had a beautiful daughter named Isabella who he was protecting in the next room." Frederick also commented on the impact of Durham's death, saying, "That was my true friend, and we don't get too many in the world like that. We are broken, man." The sentiment was echoed throughout the nearly 100 demonstrators who chanted for justice and brandished signs in support of Durham.
Understood to be the officer confronting Durham and an intruder, Alexander Bookman commanded them to drop the knife they were struggling over. Body-worn camera footage released by LVMPD showed the moments leading up to the fatal shooting. The intruder, identified as Alejandra Boudreaux, is now in custody with her court date set for tomorrow, as reported by News 3 LV.
In a statement to KTNV, rally organizer Stretch Sanders said, "Any one of us could be Brandon Durham. And then you wonder why we don't feel comfortable to call law enforcement — because these things happen." Further expressing community unease, Sanders stressed the importance of cultural training for officers engaging with people of color. The demonstration culminated with plans for a vigil in Durham's memory at the Martin Luther King, Jr. statue on Carey Avenue and M.L.K Boulevard scheduled for next Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m.
