Las Vegas Sun

April 26, 2024

First coroner’s inquest under new rules is set for June 29

Officer Involved Shooting Nov. 15 2010

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

A Metro officer stands by patrol cars at the scene of an officer involved shooting outside a Speedee Mart at 3011 East Desert Inn Road Monday, November 15, 2010.

A coroner's inquest in the November officer-involved shooting of Benjamin Bowman is scheduled for 8 a.m. June 29 and will be the first inquest to use an ombudsman to represent the decedent’s family.

The first step of the revised inquest process, a pre-inquest meeting between parties related to the shooting, was Monday at the Regional Justice Center and ended by setting the date for a second private pre-inquest meeting between the parties. The inquest is open to the public.

Monday's private proceedings were attended by law enforcement, Bowman's family, legal representation, the ombudsman, a District Attorney’s office representative and members of the coroner’s office. Officials discussed the facts of the case, evidence to be presented, the initial witness list and set a final pre-inquest meeting for June 3, according to a county news release.

Bowman died of multiple gunshot wounds Nov. 15, 2010, at a PT’s Pub near Nellis Boulevard and Sahara Avenue.

Police said Bowman took a female bartender hostage with a knife during a failed robbery attempt. When the woman broke free, police said Bowman tried to stab her and they shot him.

The new ordinance to revise the inquest hearing process was passed on Dec. 7, 2010. Changes include the establishment of an ombudsman to represent the victim’s family, the release of key evidence and investigative files, and the restructuring of meetings before the inquest hearing.

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