As Expected, Kangaroo Inquest Clears Metro Cops That Killed Erik Scott

It was always a foregone conclusion that the coroner's inquest would exonerate the three Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers that fired seven bullets into Erik Scott just outside the crowded doorway of an area Costco. The inquest process has cleared officers involved in a shooting since the days of disco, in more than 200 total incidents. In a process that allows law enforcement officials and the prosecution to shape the testimony and witness list without possibility of cross-examination, it is quite possible for Metro officers to literally get away with murder... or at least manslaughter.

And so last nights verdict came as no surprise: the officers were found justified.

Of course, we're still left with more questions unanswered than answered by the broken system championed by Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie, who is up for reelection this year.

The Scott family says they plan to file a Civil case against Costco and the Metro Police over Erik Scott's death. Under cross-examination we may finally get some of the many missing answers in this disturbing case.

My co-blogger Mike McDaniel, who has written a brilliant series of posts analyzing the case thus far, is meticulously researching the timing of the 911 tape and will be posting another review of the evidence in this case.

The coroner's inquest is over. Now the investigation into the death of Erik Scott can really begin.