Charges dropped in fracas

The Henderson city attorney dropped all charges against ice cream truck driver Zyber Selimaj on Thursday, citing no need to prolong the case that resulted in his wife's death at the hands of a Henderson police officer.

"For the betterment of the family, it was determined that it was best to dismiss the charges," city of Henderson spokeswoman Cindy Herman said.

Selimaj faced two traffic violations and a charge of obstructing police that stemmed from the Feb. 12 incident.

His attorney, Jim Jimmerson, said Selimaj was pleased with the "discretion" shown by the city attorney's office.

"We were surprised by this action, although we were asking for them to do so," Jimmerson said.

He said the charges of obstruction "were bogus from the outset."

"It's a shame that it took this long for the police or the city attorney's office to come to their senses," Jimmerson said.

Herman said it was "for the sake of the children" that it was dismissed. Selimaj has three sons, two of whom were at the scene during the shooting.

Selimaj was pulled over by a Henderson police officer that afternoon for speeding and failing to obey a stop sign.

His wife, Deshira Selimaj, arrived at the scene with two of their sons in a different ice cream truck to assist her husband.

Henderson police said she had a knife and threatened to kill herself. After being hit with a Taser by an officer, she lunged at the officer with a knife, according to police. Twenty-three-year-old officer Luke Morrison then shot her once, and she later died at a hospital.

A coroner's inquest jury determined that Morrison was justified in the shooting.

Zyber Selimaj had pleaded not guilty to the two traffic violations and the charge of obstructing police charges in Henderson Municipal Court.