Sunday, March 16, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
Police shot Ryan Henderson, 20, inside his parents' home in southeast Las Vegas on Feb. 18. A Clark County coroner's inquest jury deliberated about an hour late Friday afternoon before returning its verdict of justifiable homicide.
Testimony during the inquest documented a dramatic gun battle in which three officers were forced to dodge bullets before one shot an armed Henderson with a shotgun at close range.
"He was actually trying to kill us," said officer Andrew Locker, who fired the shots that killed Henderson. "There was no doubt in my mind."
Locher, 30, and fellow officers Lawrence Foster, 26, and Clinton Malburg, 28, went to Henderson's home about 7 a.m. after family members called police, saying that Henderson had a gun and was acting irrationally.
It was the second time that night that police were called to the home. Hours earlier, police went to the home for a similar call but found Henderson had already left.
An autopsy determined that Henderson was shot in the chest, thigh and knee. He had THC, the prime intoxicating component of marijuana, in his system at the time of his death and his blood alcohol content was .17. According to Nevada law, an individual is presumed to be intoxicated at .10.
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