The federal civil trial concerning the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Jorge Gomez by Las Vegas police officers commenced on Tuesday, with both parties presenting their opening statements.
Gomez was an armed protester participating in the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in June 2020, during a tumultuous period following George Floyd’s murder.
Attorneys for Gomez’s family assert that the police used unnecessary and excessive force, while lawyers representing the officers claim their actions were in self-defense.
Dale Galipo, the attorney for Gomez’s parents, highlighted the context leading to Gomez’s shooting, indicating that the officers had been informed of an earlier incident where an officer was shot outside Circus Circus, which influenced their reaction.
Galipo stated, “The shooting officers overreacted. They had heard what had happened at Circus Circus. They were upset.”
On the night of June 1, 2020, the protests in Las Vegas intensified, and the shooting occurred in front of the federal courthouse where the trial is being held.
The four officers involved in the shooting—Ryan Fryman, Dan Emerton, Andrew Locher, and Vernon Ferguson—were not prosecuted by the Clark County district attorney’s office.
In total, the officers fired 19 rounds in response to what they perceived as a threat from Gomez.
Galipo described the use of a beanbag shotgun on Gomez as excessive, claiming it caused him to flee.
He argued that Gomez had the right to carry his rifle, which was slung over his shoulder and pointed downwards as he approached the courthouse.
Despite not attempting to harm the officers, the situation escalated when Officer John Squeo, stationed at the courthouse steps, decided Gomez should be arrested.
Galipo stated that Squeo fired the beanbag shotgun because he believed Gomez posed an imminent threat.
Following Squeo’s action, Gomez ran away, and the other officers, hearing gunfire, assumed he was involved in a shooting and opened fire, Galipo argued.
The family attorney emphasized that Gomez was shot multiple times—even after he fell to the ground.
In contrast, Craig Anderson, the lawyer representing the officers, contended that they acted in the heat of the moment without full knowledge of prior incidents.
“The officers were going to be forced to react to that situation in real time with no facts,” Anderson told the jury.
He claimed that Gomez did not comply with Officer Ferguson’s command to stop, and asserted that his action of raising his rifle precipitated the shooting.
According to Anderson, the officers ceased firing once Gomez fell.
However, a previous investigation from the Metro detective who reviewed the shooting indicated that video footage did not support claims that Gomez leveled a weapon at the officers.
Documents filed by the family’s attorneys assert that Gomez never pointed his gun at anyone.
Daniel McNutt, representing Squeo, noted that his client used only non-lethal methods of force during the encounter.
He affirmed that Gomez was given orders to leave the area, and when he didn’t comply, the decision was made to arrest him.
McNutt also described how Squeo saw Gomez raise what he initially thought was a bat but later identified as a rifle, further substantiating his client’s use of force.
Testifying, Squeo reaffirmed that he had not arrested prior protesters and emphasized that his commands—like “Keep moving” and “You’ve been given a dispersal order”—were meant to deescalate the situation.
He mentioned he used the beanbag shotgun under the belief that Gomez was about to attack his fellow officer and reiterated that Gomez was seen running and aiming his rifle at other protesters.
Following the opening statements, Jorge Gomez, the victim’s father, expressed his feelings of grief and desire for closure.
“Right now, all I want is closure or at least close to closure,” he stated, reflecting on how his son’s death has impacted him.
Outside the courthouse, protest messages regarding the case were written in chalk, conveying frustration and calling for justice.
As the case unfolds, the court will seek to determine whether the officers’ actions were justified or if they indeed constituted excessive force against Gomez.
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