Washoe County DA finds officer involved shooting legally justified

Report shows police officers exercised life saving measures.

Reno, Nevada. April 16, 2015. After conducting a review of the full report prepared pursuant to the regional Officer Involved Shooting Protocol, District Attorney Chris Hicks has determined that the Aug. 31, 2014, use of deadly force by Reno Police Department officers was legally justified. 

The incident involving Royal Shawn Bingaman started at approximately 5 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2014, when he robbed a 62-year-old female service host working in the slot machine area at gunpoint in the Shopper’s Square Mall. During the robbery, several good Samaritans came to the victim’s aid. 

A shift supervisor at a CVS pharmacy nearby heard the victim scream and saw Bingaman battering her while trying to get into her cash drawer. The supervisor tried to help the victim by throwing a bottle of water at Bingaman. As other citizens came to assist, Bingaman fled westbound further into the mall.  Two men chased him, one of which called 911. 

Upon reaching the northwest corner of the mall and discovering locked exit doors, Bingaman reversed course back into the main area of the mall toward the two pursuing citizens screaming “I got a gun, I got a gun!” One of the good Samaritans tripped Bingaman as he passed and attempted to physically detain him.  During the physical altercation, Bingaman shot the man in the chest. Bingaman then fled the shopping mall. The victim of the gunshot was medically treated and survived. 

Numerous Reno Police Officers responded to the mall upon the report of the crimes occurring in that location. When two officers arrived, a citizen pointed to a white truck leaving the area and yelled that it was driven by the robber. The officers pursued the truck which traveled at high speeds and ignored all traffic laws and citizens in the area. After momentarily losing sight of the truck, the pursuing officers located it stopped in a cul-de-sac. Bingaman had exited the vehicle but re-entered ignoring the officers’ commands to stop. He then accelerated toward the officers while ducking below his dashboard. 

Knowing that Bingaman had just committed an armed robbery on an elderly victim, had shot an assisting citizen, was erratically operating his vehicle in complete disregard for the safety of others, and was now bearing down on the officers, they both fired their weapons in an attempt to stop Bingaman and/or his truck. Their efforts did not stop Bingaman. 

Immediately thereafter, additional responding RPD officers were able to locate and pursue Bingaman’s fleeing truck. These officers also observed him drive recklessly, disregarding traffic laws and nearly striking a pedestrian. 

Once in front of the Peppermill Casino, Bingaman slowed his truck down, exited the passenger side, and began heading toward the entrance to the casino. A pursuing officer attempted to physically subdue Bingaman to end the pursuit but was unable to restrain him. Bingaman then stood and faced the officer with a firearm in his hand. Believing that Bingaman was about to shoot the pursuing officer or others, they fired. Responding officers exercised lifesaving measures on Bingaman, but he did not survive.   

“All of the available evidence demonstrates that the officers who fired on Bingaman did so reasonably and lawfully, either in self-defense or in defense of their fellow officers, and criminal charges against them are not warranted,” Hicks said. 

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