Coroner’s jury to see video, hear findings from deadly Vegas federal building shooting
By Ken Ritter, APFriday, February 19, 2010
Coroner’s jury to review federal building shooting
LAS VEGAS — A coroner’s jury is due to view graphic surveillance images of a shotgun-wielding assailant opening fire in a federal courthouse in downtown Las Vegas, killing a security guard and wounding a deputy U.S. marshal.
Jurors will decide during the Clark County coroner’s inquest Friday whether the use of lethal force to repel the attack and kill the gunman on Jan. 4 was justified.
Police and the FBI have said 66-year-old Johnny Lee Wicks acted alone and was angry about losing a government lawsuit challenging a cut in his monthly Social Security benefits.
Authorities say Wicks fired five times, and security guards and marshals fired 81 shots.
Investigators say security images show Wicks killing security guard Stanley Cooper in the lobby of the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse.
