In the heat of a Las Vegas evening on July 25, 2015, the life of 36-year-old Bryan Keith Day, a Black/African American male, came to a sudden and violent end. Police were already at his East Charleston Boulevard apartment complex, investigating a reported home invasion next door. Day, who was not involved in the initial incident, emerged from his second-floor apartment and was told by officers to either go back inside or leave the secured crime scene.
He initially complied, but a short
time later, he reappeared at his doorway. An officer on the ground floor noticed him tucking a dark object into his waistband. Day was ordered to go back into his apartment and to lift his shirt, which he did, but not in a way that allowed officers to see what was in his waistband. He then drew what appeared to be a handgun and fired, striking an officer in the cheek.
The officer who was hit and another officer returned fire. Day was struck multiple times and slumped to the ground. According to police reports, he raised his weapon again, prompting officers to fire once more. In total, three officers fired 59 rounds, and Day was hit 20 times. What was initially believed to be a firearm was later determined to be a pellet gun. Bryan Keith Day was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy revealed no drugs in his system. His mother later informed investigators that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder but had not been taking his medication.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the three officers involved—Keith McIntyre, Christopher Gowens, and John Squeo—were placed under investigation. However, the Clark County District Attorney's Office ultimately concluded that the officers' actions were legally justified and that they would not face any criminal charges in the death of Bryan Keith Day. A public fact-finding review was held in May 2016, where the determination was officially presented.
