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Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 8:49 AM

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 Sheriffโ€™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 deputyโ€™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.

 

 

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Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I knew Sam as a member of our church growing up. He always had a warm smile, a kind word, and a great sense of humor! He will be great missed!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:57 AMComment source: Obituary -- Samuel Bruce WickizerComment author: Mike HinzComment text: Great teacher, great coach, but even a better person!!! Rest in peace Mr. BeachComment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:53 AMComment source: Obituary -- Jack Victor Beach, Jr.Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I had Mrs Hedges for First Grade at Northside Elementary in 1969. I still, to this day, remember her as a wonderful teacherโ€ฆone of my favorites!!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:29 AMComment source: Obituary - Nancy Marie Hedges C Comment author: Carl C. HagenComment text: What are MFNs and PBMs ?? ............................ From the editor: This is a very good question and we apologize for not catching that wasn't in there. We reached out to the writer/submitter and got this info back...hope it's helpful. PBM: Pharmacy Benefit Managers are pharmacies that are owned by insurance companies. (CVS is one.) They negotiate with drug makers to get reduced pricing for medications, but they historically have not passed along those savings to patients. https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/pharmacy-benefit-managers-staff-report.pdf MFN: Most Favored Nation pricing is a policy that means a country agrees to offer the same trade concessions (like tariffs or price reductions) to all member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). When applied to pharmaceuticals, it could disrupt global access, deter innovation, and obscure the deeper systemic issues in American health care. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2025/05/22/the-global-risks-of-americas-most-favored-nation-drug-pricing-policy/Comment publication date: 6/23/25, 7:47 AMComment source: L E T T E R TO THE EDITOR
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