Coroner’s inquest set for man shot by Metro officer

By Tiffany Gibson

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 | 3:20 p.m.

A coroner’s inquest has been scheduled in the case of a 26-year-old man who police fatally shot after the man fired at a Metro Police officer March 23.

The Clark County Coroner’s Office has scheduled the inquest for 9 a.m. May 21 for Damon Beal, who authorities say led police on a pursuit in the 800 block of Dolores Drive after allegedly stealing a Mercedes and trying to break into a house earlier that afternoon.

When two officers tried to stop the car, Beal and 45-year-old Marvin Lee Wilson jumped out, police said. Beal jumped over a wall and started running, and Wilson was taken into custody shortly after leaving the car.

Beal pulled out a gun and started shooting at officers, striking a major artery in 31-year-old officer Mike Madland’s leg. Police Capt. Randy Montandon said Beal was then shot twice in the head by officer Christopher Le Blanc.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Laurent will question witnesses at the inquest and a jury will determine whether Beal’s death was criminal, justified or excusable.

Wilson was initially charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and obstructing a police officer in connection with the March 23 encounter with police, but those charges were dropped. He remains in jail on a robbery with a deadly weapon charge after police said he was involved in the armed robbery of a 7-Eleven store on Charleston Boulevard in November. Beal was also identified as a suspect in that robbery, police said.

Wilson also remains jailed on an unrelated petit larceny charge in connection with the theft of cash from an adult bookstore.