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Man shot by police identified as local attorney
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Nov. 1, 2009 | 1:31 a.m.
A friend of the man who was shot by Las Vegas police multiple times earlier this week after fleeing from an officer confirmed this afternoon that the wounded man is a local attorney who unsuccessfully ran for Congress against Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev. on the Libertarian ticket last year.
The friend, who did not want to be identified, said Raymond James Duensing, was shot by police several times causing him to receive injuries to his back and arm.
Police said an officer shot Duensing after a traffic stop near Cheyenne Avenue and Jones Boulevard.
Police said the officer fired his weapon after Duensing was asked to get out of his Pontiac rental car because a record’s check indicated he had a warrant for his arrest. Police said Duensing then fled and was unsuccessfully Tased and shot after he reached toward his front right pocket for a .45-caliber handgun. Police also said Duensing reached for a large folding knife.
Duensing’s friend said this afternoon that he spoke with Duensing on the phone, who is recovering well from his bedside at University Medical Center. The friend, a lawyer himself who had worked with Duensing, said Duensing was being guarded in his hospital room by police and therefore was cautious about releasing information during the phone conversation.
“He’s not the kind of guy who would flee from police,” Duensing’s friend said. “He was Tased. He did tell me that. I think it scared the crap out of him. I don’t think he expected to be Tased over a traffic stop.”
Police said in a release Duensing is 31, but Clark County Detention Center records, where he was booked in absentia, indicated he’s 33.
Duensing’s friend said Duensing drove through an intersection in a right-turn only lane and that’s why he was pulled over. “It’s not the kind of thing you expect to be shot for,” the friend said.
Contact Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.
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He was an attorney! He should have billed the officer for the time spent being pulled over.
This story is being pushed under a rug. Its been a week since it happened and no one is talking about in or doing a follow up. Wtf. Does anyone really think the DA's office, which by the way is run by Metro, is really going to go after an officer anyway. What a joke.
Metro is trigger happy, and seems to always be able to find an excuse after the fact. There should be a truly independant review of ALL of Metro's shootings over the last several years. Someone from out of state that doesn't have a motive to back Metro up. They have a dangerous job, but they signed up for it, and are free and welcome to leave at any time.
First of all, we don't know that this man was fleeing at all, that is what the cops are saying. I frankly am not going to believe Metro as they are going to make up whatever BS they can to justify shooting someone for a routine traffic stop. This is unacceptable behavior by a police officer. The man was shot in the back. Outrageous. YOu mean these wonderfully trained officers who are sworn to protect and defend had no other way of handling a traffic stop but to shoot a man in the back? So this guy was able to reach for either a knife or a gun(which is it Metro?) after he was tassed? Please! I don't believe this crock of you know what. But, as always, nothing will happen to the cops, this will be considered a justified act as every other shooting has been, including the killing of an unarmed woman who was driving an ice cream truck was. I truly hope that a loved one of any of the cop supporters out there is not pulled over for speeding, or any other traffic offense, because he or she might just end up dead.