Las Vegas jurors possibly ‘deadlocked’ in trial over police killing of armed protester

Summary

A federal civil trial over the 2020 police shooting of Jorge Gomez appeared to hit a snag when jurors sent notes indicating confusion about unanimity and what happens if they can’t agree. U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware interpreted the jury’s questions to suggest they may be deadlocked but did not declare a mistrial. Jurors asked whether verdicts must be unanimous (the judge answered yes) and later asked about next steps if they cannot reach unanimity, prompting discussion of partial verdicts or declaring a mistrial and potential retrial.

The case stems from the Clark County district attorney’s decision not to criminally prosecute four Metropolitan Police Department officers who shot Gomez during Black Lives Matter protests. Officers say Gomez pointed a rifle at them; his family disputes that and sued the officers and the department. Deliberations began Wednesday and continued into the following week, with scheduling issues (childcare, a government shutdown affecting court staff) affecting when jurors can resume.

Key Points

Jurors in the civil trial over Jorge Gomez’s 2020 shooting asked whether verdicts must be unanimous; the judge instructed they must be.
A subsequent juror question about next steps if no unanimous decision led the judge to say the jury appeared possibly deadlocked.
The judge did not declare a mistrial; he discussed options including partial verdicts and the possibility of a mistrial if the jury is deadlocked on all counts.
The underlying dispute centres on whether Gomez pointed a rifle at officers — officers testified he did; the family disputes that claim.
Logistics (jurors’ childcare and a government shutdown affecting courthouse staff) delayed continuous deliberations; the jury is expected to resume on Monday.

Context and Relevance

This civil trial is part of a broader wave of litigation and scrutiny around police use of force during the protests that followed George Floyd’s murder. The case matters for police accountability in Las Vegas and for families seeking civil remedies when prosecutors decline criminal charges. A deadlock or mistrial could mean more proceedings and continued public attention on how courts handle officer-involved shootings and credibility disputes between officers and civilians.

Why should I read this?

Quick and straight: if you care about police accountability, protest-era policing or how tough civil suits over shootings actually play out in courtrooms — this is worth your two-minute skim. Jury deadlocks can decide whether cases get retried and how accountability plays out publicly. Also — the logistics and the judge’s moves are telling about how fragile these cases can be.