They saw Selimaj shot

Coroner’s inquest begins today in Henderson officer’s fatal shooting of woman

Las Vegas Sun File

By Abigail Goldman

Thu, Apr 10, 2008 (2 a.m.)

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The Shooting of Deshira Selimaj

Family of woman shot by Henderson police files lawsuit (4-05-2008)

Deshira Selimaj

When a courtroom fills this morning for the opening of a two-day coroner’s inquest into the Feb. 12 police slaying of a 42-year-old ice cream truck driver, 10 witnesses interviewed by an investigator working for the victim’s family will be wondering whether they’ll wind up on the witness stand.

Here is a breakdown of what nine of the 10 witnesses told the Sun they saw that afternoon. The tenth witness is being kept secret by the attorneys 42-year-old Deshira Selimaj’s husband hired after the shooting. If the inquest doesn’t go the way the family wants, Selimaj’s lawyers say they’ll release the incriminating testimony of the tenth witness.

The entire inquest is to be broadcast live on Las Vegas ONE, Cox cable channel 19, starting at 9 a.m. Thursday. At the conclusion, the jury is to decide whether 23-year-old Henderson Police Officer Luke Morrison’s shooting of Selimaj was justified, excusable or criminal.

Witness

Distance From Shooting

What Witness Saw

Saw a Knife?

Interviewed by Police?

Subpoenaed to Testify?

(1)

Real estate agent in her mid-40s

About 50 feet

The older Selimaj son, 11-year-old Alban, frisked by police after he left his mother's side. Four police officers with their guns drawn. Deshira shot with Taser. When Deshira attempted to get up, a gunshot. Deshira was almost on the ground when she was shot.

Yes

(2)

Homemaker in her early 30s

Less than 100 feet

The younger son, 5-year-old Arber, crying hysterically. Then four police officers standing around Deshira with their guns drawn. Deshira backing away from police when she was shot with a Taser, then attempting to get up when the gunshot rang out.

Yes

(3)

Man in his late 30s

30 to 40 yards

Police firing a Taser at Deshira. Deshira falling forward onto her knees as an officer "whipped" the Taser leads and prongs in her body. Deshira trying to push herself up and falling forward. The pop of a firearm and an officer approaching Deshira, putting a boot on her neck and pulling out the Taser prongs. Police then propping Deshira up on the curb "like a rag doll."

Yes

(4)

Woman in her mid-40s

Less than 50 feet

Deshira standing with a small knife near two children. (Witness did not realize Deshira was the boys' mother.) Observed Deshira to be bewildered, confused and tired. Deshira did not approach police with the knife. Saw Deshira sit down and assumed the incident was over. When she returned home, she learned Deshira had been shot.

Yes

Unknown

(5)

Business owner in his early 40s

Less than 100 feet

Officers with guns drawn on Deshira and children. Kids left their mother's side before Deshira was shot with a Taser. Deshira attempted to get up and was shot. She fell to the ground, then police sat her up along the curb.

Yes

(6)

Homemaker in her mid-40s

About 50 feet

Two police officers with their guns drawn and pointed at Deshira. Deshira appeared to be afraid and stepped back toward her ice cream truck while the children looked. Noticed the children leaving their mother's side and being picked up by police officers. Assumed that Deshira and her children must have been trying to escape from someone in the ice cream truck. Did not hear the gunshot.

Yes

Unknown

(7)

Business owner in his late 40s

30 to 40 yards

Three officers with guns drawn and pointed at a panicked Deshira, who was motioning her kids out of the line of fire. Deshira frantically yelling, then suddenly sitting down. Deshira shot while trying to get back on her feet.

Yes

(8)

High school student

30 to 40 yards, in car with Witness 7, her father.

The same as Witness 7. Also, Deshira telling police officers, "I am very tired."

Yes

Unknown

(9)

Homemaker in her late 40s

Less than 50 feet

At least four police officers surrounding Deshira, who was motioning to her kids to leave the area. The children hiding behind a nearby electrical box as Deshira, waving her hands frantically in the air, was shot with a Taser. As Deshira tried to right herself, heard the pop of a firearm.

Yes

Unknown

Discussion: 18 comments so far…

By darthbry

4/10/08 at 8:02 a.m.

Suggest removal

Wow, I guess witness #4 will be labeled a liar since she saw the knife, that all you cop haters say wasn't there. Hmm. At least 1 witness is saying the truth.
By darthbry

4/10/08 at 8:05 a.m.

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Oh yeah, and how many cops were on the scene? It changes with every witness...Well at least the witnesses are getting there 15 minutes of fame.
By AngryPostman

4/10/08 at 8:58 a.m.

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Darthbry your a putz. I hope the police shoot you next.
By darthbry

4/10/08 at 9:58 a.m.

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angrypostman, I am a cop. If you don't like us man up, call the police give them all your information and tell them to never send help when you call.
By mikeg

4/10/08 at 4:39 p.m.

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Darthbry, I don't know how you can defend this guy. He shot a mom in front of her kids. I don't think you could even get away with that in Iraq. Of course, we probably wouldn't know if he had done it there too.
By darthbry

4/10/08 at 9:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

Easy, he acted to protect an officer who attempted to use non lethal force to disarm the woman. when she came at that officer, as confirmed by her own son, she was stopped as every officer in this country is trained to do. I do not disagree that the loss of her life is a tragedy. believe me, I never hope to be put in a situation like Morrison was, but to try and make this man seem like a murderer is even low for the wackiest conspiracy theorists. As for his time in Iraq,If you have not been there, don't even second guess them. If people like you and the non patriotic self hating American media, (like most of the writers at the Las Vegas Sun)had been around in world war II, we would would all be speaking German.
By GOD

4/10/08 at 10:22 p.m.

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Scared 23 year old midget coward, couldn't hack it in Iraq and definitely can't hack it on the streets of Henderson --- when a little ice cream lady makes him pee his pants --- and then he shoots her dead in front of her young children (after torturing her first with a taser).

Hey HPD, I hope you had your fill of free ice cream, because the citizens of Henderson mock you now as you drive by.

The gangs in Henderson ride around in white vehicles with Police farce written on the side. "To protect and serve... themselves"
By becky1220

4/10/08 at 10:31 p.m.

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An unarmed woman was shot in front of her children and you defend this officers actions!!! Oh but 8 people are liars and the one that says she had a knife is the only truthful person. You are pathetic!!!! Lets say she did have a small knife that the one person says she had, you are telling me that officers had no other choice but to use lethal force. Shooting someone in the leg was not part of training??? Why was no information given to the family before the inquest something to hide????
By lvsunrise

4/10/08 at 10:39 p.m.

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Quick draw Luke needs to man up. no citizen can talk to the great police like that or it's called suicidal threats.A real man would tell the truth " I accidentally pulled the trigger " HPD Who do you think you guys are ? school district thugs er police I mean.
By lvsunrise

4/10/08 at 10:51 p.m.

Suggest removal

Let's call you what you are ; revenue enhancers and clean up crews. One little old women starts screaming at you..piss your pant's and blow her away ! Hero's ?
By Lenny_V

4/11/08 at 12:05 a.m.

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No wonder Henderson PD have such a bad name. A friend told me she was driving in Henderson when a car speed up behind her and when she accelerated to get some distance between her and the tail-gater she was pulled over for going over the speed limit. It was a Henderson police vehicle. If that's not entrapment what is?
By robert_lv

4/11/08 at 8:02 a.m.

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She was simply trying to get back up off the pavement after being hit with a Taser that did not work. She was completely disoriented and did not lunge at any officer in a threatening manner. She weighed 90 pounds and could have been easily disabled by a swift kick or by backing away. This murdering cop is going down and if he does not then Henderson should expect riots in the streets.
By AngryPostman

4/11/08 at 10:04 a.m.

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I can gaurantee you I would NEVER call on the Henderson thugs masquerading as police.
Beat up any more federal agents lately?
By darthbry

4/11/08 at 12:58 p.m.

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Justified. even her own children are stating the truth, which is why tha ambulance chaser Jimmerson tried to object. He knows it's over for him!
By darthbry

4/11/08 at 2:19 p.m.

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becky, shooting people in the leg is not ever instructed in Police training. In the movies yes, in real life no.
By becky1220

4/11/08 at 7:10 p.m.

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I just feel like lethal force should not have been used...maybe you should take some training tips from movies!
By photomomma

4/11/08 at 10:55 p.m.

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Wow, this really makes me sick that most of you feel this way. Who do you call when something goes wrong? When someone brakes into your house and your family is at risk, are you going to call the police for help? Where would our world be if we didn't have these brave men and women to risk their lives to protect our community? This woman was apparently a harm to the community, as well as herself, and the officers involved. I am so happy that we have officers that are brave enough to stop a situation such as this so that more people weren't harmed that day or in the future.

As far as people thinking less force should have been used such as a shot to the leg?...are you serious? WHere you born yesterday? When you have multiple police officers around you screaming at you to "drop your knife" and with guns in your face, and you continue to not cooperate...what do you think is going to happen. People need to realize that this stuff isn't a game. You WILL get shot if you take action to harm others, PERIOD. Everyone wants to point a finger at everyone else.
By darthbry

4/11/08 at 11:32 p.m.

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becky, you are dreaming. THe unlikely event an officer gets in a shooting, aiming for the leg, arm, foot or whatever is impossible. Imagine having your fight or flight senses running, adrenaline at maximum. hitting center mass is hard enough. That is why the metro officer hit the guy he shot in the leg. It was because he flinched. He was lucky he hit the suspect at all. what you don't realize is that an officer is responsible for every bullet that leaves his gun. If an officer fires and misses and hits and kills an innocent person, that officer is liable. so not only do we have all that going on, we are in fear that if we miss, or a bullet goes through the suspect and hits someone else, we can lose everything we own cause some scumbag attorney, (Jimmerson for example) will be suing us for our homes, cars, assets. etc... these officers, as well as every officer in the United States is trained this way. Center Mass. and if you think it is so easy, go to a gun range and try to hit a paper target (about 7 yards away from you) in the leg. Everytime you miss, contribute $10000 to charity. That is a small amount compared to what you would lose in real life if you are an officer.