Manhunt continues for Vegas shooting suspect.

According to local law enforcement a manhunt continues for a man suspected of being involved in the shooting last week that left three people dead including aspiring rapper, Kenny Clutch. Las Vegas Metro Police are searching for a man named Amma Harris who they believe to still be in the Las Vegas area.  Police has also warned others who may be assisting Mr. Harris that they could face criminal charges as well. The full news article relating to Mr. Harris is available here. As always Mr. Harris is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are ready to defend Nevadans facing criminal charges in either state or federal court. We serve clients from all socioeconomic levels of our community and we will fight the charges with everything in our power to make sure your rights are protected.  Our rates are reasonable and we are willing to negotiate  payment plans if necessary on a case by case basis.  Unlike some law firms, Connor & Connor Pllc is able to accept payment by credit or debit card.  All funds will be placed in our client trust account until earned by the attorney working the case.  If you are facing criminal charges, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a   consultation.  You may contact the firm at info@connorpllc.com, (702) 750-9139 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc. 

Rapper Kenny Clutch Killed in Vegas Shootout

According to CNN, a rapper named Kenny Cherry Jr. aka "Kenny Clutch" was among those killed in a shootout on the Las Vegas Strip  early this morning. The  full CNN article is available here.  Fox 5 Vegas reported that the gun battle resulted from a dispute that occurred in local hotel. The full Fox 5 article is available here. According to Fox 5, after the initial shooting occurred Mr. Cherry drove through a red light striking a taxi cab which burst into flames, killing the driver and his passenger. 

Gun charges can result in serious criminal penalties. The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are ready to defend Nevadans facing criminal charges in either state or federal court. We serve clients from all socioeconomic levels of our community and we will fight the charges with everything in our power to make sure your rights are protected.  Our rates are reasonable and we are willing to negotiate  payment plans if necessary on a case by case basis.  Unlike some law firms, Connor & Connor Pllc is able to accept payment by credit or debit card.  All funds will be placed in our client trust account until earned by the attorney working the case.  If you are facing criminal charges, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a consultation.  You may contact the firm at info@connorpllc.com, (702) 750-9139 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc.

Three People Killed in Gunfight on Las Vegas Strip

According to local news station KLAS, three people have been killed in what is being described as a rolling gun battle on the Las Vegas Strip. Details remain sketchy, but the full article is available here. It was also reported by Fox News that the shooting involved at least five vehicles including a local taxi cab.  The Fox News video is available here. From the video it appears that the taxi cab was completely burned out by the time law enforcement arrived at the scene.  We will follow up on this post when more details become available.  

Picture from Abc

Gun charges can result in serious criminal penalties. The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are ready to defend Nevadans facing criminal charges in either state or federal court. We serve clients from all socioeconomic levels of our community and we will fight the charges with everything in our power to make sure your rights are protected.  Our rates are reasonable and we are willing to negotiate  payment plans if necessary on a case by case basis.  Unlike some law firms, Connor & Connor Pllc is able to accept payment by credit or debit card.  All funds will be placed in our client trust account until earned by the attorney working the case.  If you are facing criminal charges, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a consultation.  You may contact the firm at info@connorpllc.com, (702) 750-9139 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc.

Las Vegas Homeowner Shoots Intruder

According to Foxnews, a Las Vegas homeowner shot and killed an intruder who was attempting to break into his home with two other individuals.  The man who had reportedly been a burglary victim recently was home with his wife and children at the time of the attempted break in. The homeowner reportedly retrieved a handgun from his bedroom before opening fire on the intruders.  One of the intruders died of his wounds, another was injured in a motor vehicle accident with a police officer who arrived at the scene.  A third suspect remains at large. 

This incident comes at a time when the debate regarding the role of guns in our society is raging among our lawmakers and in the media.  At this time it appears that the homeowner will not face any charges as a result of his actions. While the use of deadly force should always be a last resort, Nevada law does provide fairly broad protections for people to defend themselves.  For example, Nevada has some of the least restrictive gun laws in the nation allowing for both open and concealed carry of firearms.  Although, concealed carrying of firearms in Nevada requires a permit and is subject to a variety of limitations. Additionally, Nevada law does not require a victim to retreat from an unprovoked attack. Further, Nevada statute NRS 41.095  provides for the legal presumption that it is reasonable for a person who is lawfully in their home to use deadly force against an intruder or person attempting to break in. However, in spite of Nevada laws meant to protect the rights of citizens to defend themselves, there are often gray areas where Nevadans can face prosecution for the use of deadly force in self defense.  For example, determining whether a person was in reasonable fear of imminent death or bodily harm can largely be a matter of opinion.  Further, the decision on whether to pursue charges against a person claiming self defense is often left up to the local District Attorney who can be subject to immense political pressure to do so (as in the Trayvon Martin case).  Persons claiming self defense can also find themselves in serious trouble if it is unclear as to who the initial aggressor was or in situations where the victim knew the aggressor as in domestic violence situations.

Nevadans who use deadly force in self defense should cooperate with law enforcement, but should not answer questions without first seeking the advice of a competent criminal defense attorney.  If you are facing criminal charges relating to the use of deadly force in self defense, or any other criminal charges, you should contact an attorney immediately.  The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are ready to defend Nevadans facing criminal charges in either state or federal court. We serve clients from all socioeconomic levels of our community and we will fight the charges with everything in our power to make sure your rights are protected.  Our rates are reasonable and we are willing to negotiate  payment plans if necessary on a case by case basis.  Unlike some law firms, Connor & Connor Pllc is able to accept payment by credit or debit card.  All funds will be placed in our client trust account until earned by the attorney working the case.  If you are facing criminal charges, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a free consultation.  You may contact the firm at info@connorpllc.com, (702) 750-9139 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc.

Pot Luck? CU students serve pot brownies to classmates.

The Denver Post recently reported that two University of Colorado Boulder students are facing criminal charges after allegedly feeding pot brownies to their unsuspecting classmates during their "Early Modern History" class (The full article from the Denver Post is available here).  Apparently the class allowed for a potluck on Fridays and the two students thought it was a good idea to bring brownies cooked with marijuana. Unfortunately, several students (and one professor) were sickened after ingesting the brownies. The two students who prepared the brownies were later identified as Thomas Ricardo Cunningham (age 21) and Elizabeth Essa (age 19). Fellow students were puzzled as to how the pair thought they could get away with the prank given that everybody in class knew who brought the brownies. Three people were taken to the hospital after suffering from anxiety attacks and near blackouts. After being questioned by authorities, both suspects admitted to serving the pot brownies to their unwitting classmates. This case comes on the heels of Colorado's recent ballot measure that legalized the recreational use of marijuana and just days before the Governor of Colorado signed a declaration certifying the ballot measure.  More information on the status of marijuana laws in the state of Colorado is available here. 

While the their acts may have been a well intentioned prank, the two students are now facing serious criminal charges. According to local law enforcement, the students face charges for second degree assault and inducing the consumption of a controlled substance by fraudulent means (and conspiracy relating to those charges).  Based on the charges, the two students could face prison time for what law enforcement are calling a pot brownie "attack". As always, both students are considered innocent until proven guilty. 

The students' prank could not have come at a worse time for the marijuana decriminalization movement.  Many people have fought long and hard to change the public's perception of marijuana. Actions such as the Colorado students' serve to delegitimize the argument that marijuana should be decriminalized, or outright legalized. The students' actions add to the public perception that marijuana is dangerous and that marijuana users are irresponsible criminals. As long as people pull stupid stunts like this, marijuana and its users will continue to be stigmatized and treated as criminals.

Even as our nation makes progress in modernizing its drug laws, each year thousands of people will  be arrested for drug charges. As a result of the so called "war on drugs" criminal gangs will continue to get rich off of users, the government will continue to waste billions of tax dollars and nothing will change. It is plain that the war on drugs has been an abject failure at nearly every level, yet the politicians who rule our country are unwilling to consider real changes to our drug policies. Consequently, each year we spend billions of tax dollars fighting a war that can never be won.  

Until our country changes its policies, people facing drug charges need competent legal representation.  The attorneys Connor & Connor Pllc are prepared to defend Nevadans facing drug charges in either state of federal court.  We are ready to fight for your rights and your liberty. Our attorneys serve clients from all socioeconomic backgrounds and we will fight the charges with everything in our power. Our rates are reasonable and the firm is willing to negotiate a payment plan if necessary. Unlike other firms, we have the ability to accept payment by credit or debit cards if necessary. If you are facing criminal charges, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a consultation. You may contact the firm at info@connorpllc.com, (702) 430-4614, (702) 749-5992 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's page on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc. If you have a legal question or if your are in need of legal representation do not hesitate to contact us as any delay could negatively affect your rights.  

New York Cop Gives Homeless Man New Boots

Larry DiPrimo, a New York City police officer, has made national headlines after he was photographed giving a new pair of boots and socks to a homeless man in Times Square on November 14, 2012. According to the New York Post, Officer DiPrimo recalled that it was a very cold night when he noticed a homeless man sleeping on the sidewalk with no shoes (the New York Post article is available here). Officer DiPrimo stated that the man's feet were covered in blisters and he knew that he had to do something to help him so he purchased a pair of boots and socks with his own personal funds to give to the man. Officer DiPrimo described the man as a very kind gentlemen who needed help. Unbeknownst to Officer DiPrimo, his actions were being photographed by a tourist who later posted the images on  the popular social networking site facebook.  Since being posted on facebook the the story has gone viral receiving wide media coverage. The 25 year old DiPrimo, has been overwhelmed by the attention that the story has received, but remains humble.    

A story like this not only reminds us to care for the less fortunate, it also highlights the fact that the relationship between law enforcement and citizens doesn't have to be a negative one. Nevertheless, some groups remain critical of the NYPD following the attention that Officer DiPrimo and the department have received. The Los Angeles Times  recently reported some advocacy groups have had a largely bittersweet reaction to the DiPrimo story given the New York Police Department's history with the homeless (the full article is available here). According to the LA Times, a spokesman for the New York based Coalition for the Homeless, characterized the NYPD's past treatment of the homeless as "brutal". Taking it a step further, a spokesman from the group Picture the Homeless added the following "[t]hat picture gives the impression that the whole department is compassionate. It's not like that."  

While the fact of the matter remains that not all citizen/law enforcement interactions are as cordial as the Officer DiPrimo incident, we should be thankful that there are truly caring law enforcement officers such as him on the force serving our communities. A big step towards improving citizen/law enforcement interactions is simply civility.  A not insignificant number of people are sitting in jail at this very minute simply because they mouthed off to law enforcement officers.  On the other side of the coin, there are numerous situations that were needlessly escalated by overly aggressive law enforcement officers. At the end of the day it is the law enforcement officers job to do just what the job title describes, they are here to enforce the law. Accordingly, officers issue citations, give speeding tickets and make arrests. Obviously, this creates an adversarial situation between law enforcement  who are trying to do their job and the community who want to live their lives and enjoy their liberties.  

People facing criminal charges need quality legal representation. The attorneys Connor & Connor Pllc are prepared to defend your rights and your liberty. We are licensed to represent Nevadans facing criminal charges in either state or federal court. We serve clients from all socioeconomic backgrounds and we will fight the charges with everything in our power to make sure that your rights are protected.  Our rates are reasonable and the firm is willing to negotiate a payment plan if necessary.  Unlike other firms, we have the ability to accept payment by credit or debit cards if necessary.  If you are facing criminal charges, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a  consultation. You may contact the firm at info@connorpllc.com, (702) 430-4614, (702) 749-5992 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's page on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc. If you have a legal question or if your are in need of legal representation do not hesitate to contact us as any delay could negatively affect your rights.  

Las Vegas Police Shoot Man Following Domestic Dispute

According to Action 13 News, Las Vegas Metro Police officers were involved in a shooting on November 11th following a domestic dispute (the full article is available here).  According to the article, LVPD received a call about a domestic disturbance between a man and a woman in the parking lot of the closed Hollywood Park off of East Charleston Blvd.  After removing the woman from the car, the officers shot the man while he remained seated in the vehicle.  It is unclear what prompted the officers to use deadly force, but the man is expected to survive.  According to Las Vegas Sun News, LVPD officers were involved in three shooting in just one week (the Las Vegas Sun article is available here).  The shooting comes just days after another shooting involving the Henderson Nevada Police Department on November 8th (A Las Vegas Review Journal article on that story is available here).  That situation involved a mentally disturbed man who allegedly pointed a gun at SWAT officers during a tense standoff in a drainage ditch across the street from St. Rose Hospital.  The man was shot numerous times by the officers and died of his wounds at the scene.  According to the Las Vegas Review Journal the shooting is the third for the city of Henderson this year.  

Unfortunately, Las Vegas law enforcement officers have been involved in numerous high profile shootings recently.  One notable incident occurred on May 16th of this year when officers shot an unarmed and handcuffed teenager in the back, killing him. Another notorious incident occurred just days before Christmas 2011, when officers shot a Gulf War veteran numerous times in the back of the head with an AR-15 rifle.  It was recently reported that the officers involved in that shooting could face indictment for their actions (our earlier blog post on this incident is available here).  According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, Las Vegas police shot and killed 12 people in 2011 (the report is available here).

The number of law enforcement agencies and personnel has skyrocketed during the past few decades.  Given the increase in agencies and personnel, interaction with law enforcement is simply a daily fact of life for most Americans.  While the majority of law enforcement officers faithfully perform their duties, there are officers who abuse their authority or act in an overly aggressive manner.  Unfortunately, proving that an officer has acted improperly can be an uphill battle. It was recently reported that no officer has ever been held liable by the Las Vegas Police Department following a shooting.  Officers who abuse their authority or act in an overly aggressive manner undermine the public's trust in our justice system putting people who face criminal charges in fear when dealing with authorities.  Often times people's fear of law enforcement causes them to waive their constitutionally protected rights.  Unscrupulous officers will intimidate people into allowing searches without a warrant or to answer questions without an attorney present.  Often times waiving these rights result in criminal charges and convictions which didn't have to happen.

Nevadans who are facing criminal charges need to be accurately advised of their rights.  Nevadans have the right to be free from unreasonable searches, the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.  The attorneys Connor & Connor Pllc are prepared to defend Nevadans facing criminal charges in either state or federal court.  We serve clients from all socioeconomic backgrounds and we will fight the charges with everything in our power to make sure that your rights are protected.  Our rates are reasonable and the firm is willing to negotiate a payment plan if necessary.  If you are facing criminal charges, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a   consultation.  You may contact the firm at info@connorpllc.com, (702) 430-4614, (702) 749-5992 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's page on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc.