WCSO NEWS RELEASE
Yesterday at approximately 3:55 p.m., an officer-involved shooting (hereinafter “OIS”) occurred in the area of Interstate 80 and the Mustang Exit.
Preliminary investigation revealed two on-duty Nevada Highway troopers were involved in the shooting while conducting a search of a vehicle, occupied by four subjects, as a result of a traffic stop.
The escalation of the incident continued as one of the male subjects fled the scene of the initial traffic stop by traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 in a marked Nevada Highway Patrol vehicle.
The incident concluded on I-80 near Fernley, where it appears as if the subject succumbed to a gunshot wound. Lifesaving resuscitation efforts were administered but were unsuccessful. No law enforcement personnel were harmed during this incident.
The name of the decedent is not being released pending notification of next of kin by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, which is conducting the death portion of the investigation.
The two Nevada Highway Patrol troopers have been placed on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the on-going investigation.
Pursuant to the Washoe County’s OIS Protocol, the OIS investigation will be conducted by a joint investigative team comprising multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Reno Police Department, the Sparks Police Department, the Nevada Department of Investigation and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is the lead agency for this investigation. Additional information will be released as the investigation unfolds.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office at (775) 328-3320, Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900 or http://www.secretwitness.com/ or to text the tip to 847411 (TIP 411) keyword – SW.
Additional contact:
Lieutenant Jerry Baldridge (775) 328-3320, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations/Investigations Division
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office celebrated 150 years of proud service and community partnership in 2011. Sheriff Michael Haley is the 25th person elected to serve as the sheriff of Washoe County. His office continues to be the only full service public safety agency operating within northern Nevada and is responsible for operating the consolidated detention facility, regional crime lab, Northern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center, Internet Crimes against Children Task Force, court security, service of civil process, traditional street patrols and Regional Animal Services.
