Nevada State Police Release Preliminary Findings in Officer-Involved Shooting

The Nevada State Police Division of Investigations has released preliminary findings into an officer-involved shooting involving a Churchill County Sheriff’s Office deputy on June 16.

Dispatch received calls reporting a fire on Trento Lane, north of the paved roadway near Mustang Pong. At approximately 7:44 p.m., a CCSO deputy arrived on scene and located a vehicle fully engulfed in flames. The deputy contacted an individual, identified as 46-year-old Denny Benka, who was standing on the porch of his RV near the fire.

The deputy gave repeated commands directing Benka to move away so firefighters could begin suppression efforts. Benka refused to comply, responded confrontationally, and brandished a hatchet. The deputy drew his firearm and ordered Benka to drop the weapon; Benka remained non-compliant.

Benka retreated into the trailer, then re-emerged in the doorway holding what appeared to be a scoped high-caliber rifle, which was later identified as a pneumatic rifle. When he raised and aimed the weapon at the deputy, the deputy fired to protect himself.

The deputy provided medical assistance and helped transfer Benka to paramedics, who attempted life-saving measures. Those efforts were unsuccessful, and Benka was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A subsequent search located additional weapons on Benka, including a knife and an object resembling an ice pick.

The involved deputy has five years of service with CCSO and more than 10 years of total law enforcement experience. In accordance with agency policy, the deputy has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Benka had an extensive Nevada criminal history dating to 1998, including prior arrests for resisting arrest, assault on a peace officer, battery, and arson. Had he survived, anticipated charges included attempted murder of a police officer, assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, and resisting arrest with a deadly weapon.

The causes of both the fire and the officer-involved shooting remain under active investigation. Based on the information known at this time, the deputy’s actions appear to have been in self-defense during a rapidly evolving, life-threatening encounter. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.