Inquest begins in in shooting at school

Friday, Feb. 27, 2004 | 9:18 a.m.

A Clark County coroner's inquest jury was scheduled to meet this morning to determine if a Henderson Police officer was justified in shooting a man during a standoff in the parking lot of Fay Galloway Elementary School in January.

The case stems from the killing of Hezekiah E. Lewis, 40, of Henderson on Jan. 21 by Officer Mike Gillis of the department's special response team after Lewis allegedly threatened police during a standoff at 701 Skyline Road, near Horizon Drive.

Shortly before the shooting, Lewis allegedly gunned down Anthony Jackson, 35, in a car parked in the parking lot of the school and then ran into the school looking for his ex-girlfriend, with intentions to shoot and kill her.

Twenty-seven children were inside the school at the time. They were not injured.

After a failed attempt to locate his ex-girlfriend, Lewis returned to the vehicle with Jackson.

Jackson was the woman's current boyfriend, police said.

Police, not knowing Jackson's condition, approached the car. Police asked Lewis to put his gun down several times.

Police allege that after Lewis threatened police, Gillis shot him while he was inside the car, killing him.

Police said they fired at Lewis believing they could rescue Jackson.

Gillis, who has been with the department for nine years, has been on paid leave since the shooting.