Coroner’s jury rules killing by Metro officers justified

Jace Radke

Monday, Oct. 13, 2003 | 9:30 a.m.

The actions of two Metro Police officers who shot and killed a man who allegedly came at them with a knife were found justified by a jury during a coroner's inquest Friday.

Officers Pasquale Varrati and Benjamin Cohen, both of whom have been with Metro since July 1998, fatally shot Charles M. Rorie III, 21, on Sept. 8 on the outskirts of Desert Breeze Park near Spring Mountain Road and Durango Drive.

Witnesses testified during the daylong hearing Friday that Rorie appeared to be drunk and was wielding a 12-inch long kitchen knife when the officers shot him.

The seven member jury was unanimous in its decision that the officers were justified.

According to witnesses, Rorie stole a beer from a Chevron convenience store and waved a knife at a clerk. Rorie then crossed Durango Drive to the park and was almost hit by a car before two plainclothes officers in an unmarked car attempted to stop him.

Charles Sierra, the clerk whom Rorie allegedly waved the knife at, said that Rorie advanced on the officers with the knife despite the officers having drawn their weapons.

"It was clear that the officers were giving him instructions, but he just kept coming toward them and was shot," Sierra said.

Rorie was taken to University Medical Center, where he died at 2:52 a.m. Sept. 9.

Jurors at coroner's inquests are charged with determining whether a shooting is justifiable, excusable or criminal. If it is determined that a shooting is criminal, the case is forwarded to the Clark County district attorney's office for prosecution.

Rorie's homicide was the seventh fatal shooting this year by a Metro officer -- equaling the total for 2002. Metro officers shot and killed six people in 2001.