The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers in a fatal shooting case, upholding qualified immunity protections despite allegations of excessive force. The memorandum decision in *K.C. v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department* was filed Jan. 2, 2026, following oral arguments held in October 2025.

The case centers on a deadly encounter between Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers and Keith Childress, whom officers mistakenly believed was carrying a firearm. The incident involved Sergeant Robert Bohanon, Officer Blake Walford, and Officer James Ledogar, who opened fire on Childress as he approached them.

According to court documents, the officers fired two volleys of shots at Childress. After the first round of gunfire, as Childress approached the officers, they fired again when he fell to the ground. Following the second volley, Officer Ledogar released a police dog onto Childress, which bit him for approximately 15 seconds.

The lawsuit was filed by K.C., a minor represented through her guardian ad litem Caroline Childress, Keith Childress's mother. The plaintiffs alleged violations of the Fourth Amendment regarding excessive force and Fourteenth Amendment claims related to familial relationships.

The Ninth Circuit panel upheld the district court's finding that the officers were entitled to qualified immunity. The court determined that even viewing the facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs, the officers' actions did not violate clearly established constitutional rights at the time of the incident.

The decision reflects ongoing legal challenges regarding police use of force and the scope of qualified immunity protections for law enforcement officers in cases involving civilian deaths.