Inquest result expected today

Friday, Jan. 14, 2005 | 9:04 a.m.

A Clark County coroner's inquest jury is expected to determine today whether a Metro Police officer was justified in shooting and killing a 48-year-old man who allegedly lunged at him with a sword last month.

David Higgins' roommate had called police Dec. 17 and reported that Higgins was intoxicated and "acting in a bizarre and agitated manner," police said.

When Officer Raul Rodriguez and other officers arrived at the home on the 4600 block of Calderwood Street, near Rainbow Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue, Higgins allegedly had a sword in his hands.

Police said they talked to Higgins and tried to disarm him. When that failed, several officers fired Tasers to subdue him, police said.

Higgins allegedly attacked Rodriguez with the sword, and the officer fired, striking Higgins, who was taken to University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

archive