Two years after a Las Vegas police officer fatally shot Brandon Durham inside his home, his surviving spouse Rachel Gore is still living in the house, preserving his memory while pursuing accountability through a federal lawsuit.
What happened
On the night of Nov. 12, 2024, Durham, a 43‑year‑old realtor, called 911 to report an intruder near the intersection of Sunset and Eastern. When officers arrived, they forced the front door open, found Durham wrestling with a suspect identified as Alejandra Boudreaux over a knife, and Officer Alexander Bookman ordered the knife dropped. Bookman fired once, then five more times after Durham fell, killing him.
Family’s response
Gore, who moved back into the home in August 2025, has repaired damage, kept Durham’s belongings, and turned a garage into a “man cave” filled with memorabilia, including a never‑drunk energy drink bought the night he was killed. She says the boot print left in the door reminds her that different decisions might have saved his life.
“I don’t have the spookiness of fear that some people might have,” Gore said. “Hard is the death. That’s hard. Everything after it is trying to cope.” She added that seeing a Metro officer nearby can instantly bring back the trauma, and she does not feel safe anywhere in Las Vegas.
Legal actions
The family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in April 2025 alleging excessive force, civil‑rights violations, inadequate training for Bookman and departmental policies that contributed to Durham’s death. They seek damages and policy changes, including mandatory de‑escalation training and stricter discipline for officers with prior misconduct.
In July 2025, a Clark County grand jury declined to indict Bookman, issuing a “no bill.” Bookman left the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in March 2026. The civil case has moved forward with depositions, but attorneys still seek to question both Bookman and Boudreaux. Boudreaux’s criminal case has been continued to mid‑March 2027, and she may invoke her Fifth Amendment right, limiting the family’s ability to question her in the civil suit.
Looking ahead
Family attorney Cannon Lambert said the legal process remains slow and uncertain. “There are a lot of things that still haven’t been answered, frankly, and I think the family struggles with that,” Lambert said.
Gore echoed the frustration, noting the waiting period is “extremely difficult” and that the family wants accountability “in whatever form it comes.”
Original reporting: News 3 KSNV Las Vegas (local) — read the source article.
