Officer ID’d in LV traffic stop shooting

The condition of the man shot several times by a Las Vegas police officer last week has been upgraded to fair.

Raymond James Duensing remained at University Medical Center on Sunday. A friend told the Review-Journal Saturday that Duensing was shot three times and had wounds to his back and arm.

The officer who shot Duensing was identified by police Sunday as David Gilbert. He's an officer in the traffic bureau who has been with the Metropolitan Police Department since February 1993.

On Thursday, Duensing was pulled over by Gilbert during a routine traffic stop on Cheyenne Avenue, just west of Michael Way. Las Vegas police said a confrontation took place between Duensing and Gilbert. Duensing fled.

Police said Gilbert fired his weapon after he saw Duensing trying to take a .45-caliber gun out of his pants.

Duensing unsuccessfully ran for Congress on the Libertarian ticket against Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., in 2008, 2006 and 2004, generally garnering 2 percent to 3 percent of the vote.

Gilbert was seriously injured in 2005 when he was thrown from his department-issued motorcycle while chasing a speeding vehicle on New Year's Day.

The officer was attempting to avoid another motorist who failed to yield the right-of-way when he moved in front of the car.