Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

State looking at policies after shooting death in LV

CARSON CITY -- The director of the state Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities says the agency is looking at its policies after a client shot to death one man and wounded two police officers in Las Vegas.

Director Carlos Brandenburg said Tuesday an examination is under way to determine if changes should be made in its procedures.

His statement came after Frank Lyles was arrested on charges of fatally shooting Kevin Chandler, 49, on a Las Vegas street Thursday and wounding police officers David L. Petrucci and Shon R. Comiskey.

Lyles' attorney James "Bucky" Buchanan blamed the state. He said the state division denied Lyles medication two days before the shooting and instead rescheduled his appointment for the day after the killing.

"It was because of his lack of medication that he went hysterical," Buchanan said.

Brandenburg declined to comment on specifics in the case.

The arrest report for Lyles indicated he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

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