In a case that has captured the attention of a community desperate for accountability, lead attorney Lee Meritt and co-counsel Canon Lambert have outlined their mounting frustrations over the delayed indictment of Officer Alexander Bookman for the murder of Brandon Durham. The family’s legal representatives describe a process fraught with bureaucratic sluggishness and what they see as a calculated misuse of force—a misuse that turned a moment of supposed split-second decision-making into an execution.

According to attorney Meritt, following a recent meeting with prosecutor Steve Wolson, the file on the case is now 98% complete. Despite assurances that the evidence overwhelmingly points to a calculated decision by Bookman—a decision made not in a reflexive moment of threat but after a prolonged and deliberate series of actions—the family continues to wait for formal charges. Meritt stresses that the officer knew his victims personally, evidenced by biometric data confirming that Brandon Durham had allowed Bookman access into his own home just 24 hours before the fatal incident. This detail, among others, is central to their argument: it is not simply a matter of officers acting under pressure, but one of a deliberate and unjustified use of deadly force.

Family members speak with raw emotion about the tragedy. Diane Wright, Durham’s sister, recalls with anguish how her brother was repeatedly shot, even after falling to the ground, and how the officer’s subsequent actions—such as stepping forward and discharging his weapon additional times—transform the incident from an accidental tragedy into what she calls plain murder. She is not alone; Brandon’s wife, Rachel, voices a deep-seated frustration with the prosecutorial delays. For her, the prolonged wait for justice not only compounds the loss but signals a systemic failure to hold those in power accountable.

The legal community has been briefed that the investigation, while nearly complete, still awaits final laboratory results regarding the officer’s blood alcohol content—a detail the defense apparently prioritized over critical evidence of excessive force. The fact that Bookman trained his weapon three separate times before discharging it, combined with his known personal relationship to the individuals involved, forms a damning record that Meritt’s team insists should preclude any reasonable interpretation other than premeditated misconduct.

This case transcends the boundaries of a mere criminal proceeding; it touches on broader issues of police accountability, the administration of justice, and the trust between communities and those sworn to protect them. Critics argue that such calculated actions are symptomatic of deeper systemic issues—where the law, intended to be an impartial arbiter, becomes entangled with institutional reluctance to confront uncomfortable truths about power and its abuse.

In the words of the family’s legal team, there is no room for ambiguity: this is not a split-second decision made in the heat of the moment; it is a calculated act, one that calls for immediate and unequivocal action. They remain cautiously optimistic that within the next few weeks, as the file becomes fully complete, the state will move forward with criminal charges. Should local prosecutorial discretion fail, they have vowed to seek federal intervention through the office of Attorney General Aaron Ford and even pursue a federal civil rights suit to ensure that accountability is not deferred any longer.

In a system where every delay is another day of unaddressed grief, the family’s persistent call for justice stands as a testament to their determination. Their voices, resonant with sorrow and indignation, underscore a crucial truth: in the search for justice, the process must not only follow the letter of the law but also honor its spirit by ensuring that no act of calculated violence goes unpunished.