Three officers face inquest in killing

Friday, Feb. 25, 2005 | 10 a.m.

A coroner's inquest jury was expected to decide today whether the actions of three Metro Police officerss were justifiable, excusable or criminal in connection with a Jan. 4 shooting that left a 28-year-old man dead.

Police said Jeffrey Allan Gaddis tried to rob a Walgreens on Flamingo Road near Nellis Boulevard, led officers on a short chase and then pulled a gun on them. The officers shot Gaddis.

The officers are David Garris, Sean Malia and David Dilullo.

Garris has been with Metro Police for six years, Malia for seven years and Dilullo for eight years. All three are assigned to the patrol division of the Southeast Area Command.

Gaddis' parents said after the shooting that they don't blame the police, they blame the state's lack of mental health services for the uninsured.

Jeffrey Gaddis, a 1994 Chapparal High School graduate, had been wrestling with drug and gambling addictions for some time.

Police said he was arrested in May and July and charged with illegal possession of prescription drugs.

Last October, Gaddis tried to get Henderson Police to shoot him at an apartment, according to a police report.

The three Metro officers have been on routine paid administrative leave since killing Gaddis and can't return to work unless they are cleared by the coroner's inquest.