Coroner’s jury: Officer justified in death of man who shot officer

By Dave Toplikar

Published Friday, May 21, 2010 | 12:51 p.m.

Updated Friday, May 21, 2010 | 3:59 p.m.

A Metro Police officer was justified for fatally shooting a man March 23 who fired at a fellow officer, a Clark County coroner's jury ruled today.

The coroner's inquest jury began deliberating Friday afternoon over whether there was any criminal wrongdoing in the death of 26-year-old Damon Beal, who was killed by two bullets to the head fired by Metro Police Officer Christopher LeBlanc.

"I had no other choice but to fire those shots," LeBlanc told the jury during testimony in the inquest, which examined the events that led up to the death -- a car chase, a maneuver to get the car to crash and a foot chase over walls and through backyards of a Las Vegas neighborhood where another officer, Michael Madland, was seriously wounded when Beal shot him in the leg.

Justice of the Peace Joseph S. Sciscento told the jurors they needed to determine whether LeBlanc's actions in Beal’s death were criminal, justified or excusable. After about 30 minutes of deliberations, the jury ruled the fatal shooting was justified.

“This is the end of it, as far as we’re concerned,” assistant coroner John Fudenberg said.

LeBlanc, who was among nine witnesses testifying at the inquest, was one of several officers who were involved in the pursuit of a dark-colored Mercedes driven by Beal that they believed had been involved in a robbery and shooting a few days earlier.

After the driver of the Mercedes would not stop, police were told to turn off their lights and sirens but to continue to follow the car, and a police helicopter was brought in to help keep the Mercedes in sight, according to police officers who were involved in the chase, which led to the 800 block of Dolores Drive.

Eventually, police were given clearance to perform a "Pursuit Immobilization Technique" maneuver where the police car bumps the car from behind, spinning it out and killing its engine, according to Bryan Woolard, an officer who was observing from a helicopter.

When officers got the car to stop, Beal and 45-year-old Marvin Lee Wilson jumped out, police said. Wilson was taken into custody shortly after leaving the car.

But Beal jumped over a wall, started running and was chased over two more backyard walls before being cornered by Madland in a backyard after he couldn't scale a large wall, Madland said.

Madland said Beal pulled out a pistol and shot three times, hitting Madland once in the leg and in his chest, which was stopped by Madland's bullet-proof vest, the officer said.

Madland continued running toward Beal and tackled him, with both men ending up in a flower bed plantern. Madland said he grabbed at the gun and was trying to keep Beal from shooting him again. He said a couple of shots rang out and he felt the suspect's body "go limp."

LeBlanc said as he entered the backyard, he heard from the radio that an observer in the police helicopter saw Beal had a gun. He drew his 9 millimeter Glock semiautomatic pistol, then heard two or three shots and saw Madland tackle Beal. Running over, LeBlanc said Beal was pointing a black pistol at Madland.

"I fired twice at the suspect," LeBlanc said.

Lisa Gavin, a medical examiner from the coroner's office who did the autopsy, said she found two bullet wounds in the left side of Beal's head above his ear, and two exit wounds on the other side of his head.

LeBlanc said after determining Beal was no longer a threat, he took Beal's gun and placed it onto a barbecue grill and had another officer handcuff Beal.

Madland, who was shot in the femoral artery, testified from his wheelchair. He told the jury he still has some movement in his toes and hopes to return to duty. He said he spent seven weeks at University Medical Center and had four surgeries. He said he was in a coma for a week.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Laurent and Assistant District Attorney Christopher Owens questioned witnesses throughout the proceedings.