WCSO NEWS RELEASE
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has requested the Regional Officer Involved Shooting Team conduct the investigation into an officer-involved shooting which occurred on Highway 80 near Golconda, Nev., on Wednesday afternoon. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is the lead agency conducting the investigation with assistance from the Reno Police Department.
According to investigators, personnel from the Nevada Department of Public Safety and the Winnemucca Police Department were involved with a traffic stop on Highway 80 at mile marker 222 when the subject of the stop fled the scene in his vehicle. Deputies from the Humboldt County and Lander County Sheriff’s Offices responded to assist with the pursuit.
The driver was pursued westbound on Interstate 80 until he exited the Interstate in the Golconda area. The driver got out of his vehicle and immediately fired multiple rounds in the direction of the responding officers, striking two patrol vehicles. Shrapnel struck and injured a K9 who was enclosed within a kennel inside one of the patrol vehicles.
Law enforcement personnel returned fire, and the driver subsequently died as a result of his injuries. No officers were injured during the incident. The K9 was assessed at an area animal hospital and released.
Investigators are still waiting formal identification of the decedent as well as next of kin notification.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office Detectives Division at (775) 328-3320 or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900.
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.
