Las Vegas NowCoroner's Inquest: Officer Justified in Shooting Teen

Coroner's Inquest: Officer Justified in Shooting Teen

A coroner's inquest jury has determined that a Las Vegas police officer was justified in fatally shooting Tanner Chamberlain. 

Chamberlain's mother says her son was bipolar and she begged officers not to kill her son. The teen was shot Sept. 29 after Officer Derek Colling was called to a report of a domestic disturbance at an apartment several miles east of the Las Vegas Strip.

Video that was shot from a camera on a taser showed the chaotic scene as it unfolded. The video shows a knife in Chamberlain's right hand being held to his mother's neck as he drags her around.

During the inquest, it was learned that Chamberlain, who was on medication for his illness, had refused to take his medication.

Officers who arrived at the scene that day say the apartment where the mother and son lived was damaged by Chamberlain's rage.

A coroner told the jury that Chamberlain was shot one time in the right side of his head with a .45 caliber handgun.

Chamberlain's mother was not in attendance. She did submit a statement that officers did not have to shoot her son.