Ian McGibboney, Seth A. Richardson, Mike Higdon, and Marcella Corona

Reno Gazette-Journal

Reno law-enforcement officials are investigating an officer-involved shooting that involved a minivan crashing into a booth at Wing Fest in downtown Reno on Sunday afternoon.

The suspect in the incident has been pronounced dead, according to Bob Harmon of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office. He said the identity of the suspect, an adult male, would not likely be disclosed before Tuesday. No clear motive has yet been determined. No one else was in the vehicle with the suspect, Harmon said. No citizens or officers were injured.

Harmon said the incident began at approximately 1:30 p.m. during an attempted traffic stop at the intersection of Park and Kuenzli streets due to the driver's refusal to yield. The driver did not pull over and eventually made his way to Plaza and Center streets. The suspect then swerved toward a police officer who was on foot, apparently with the intent of hitting the officer, according to the RPD.

That officer chased the car down Plaza Street toward Virginia Street into Wing Fest. The officer shot through the driver side of the minivan. After the car turned into the event on Virginia Street, the officer then shot several more rounds into the passenger side. The minivan then crashed into a vendor tent and stopped.

After being shot, the suspect was given CPR on the scene and was pronounced dead at Renown.

Wing Fest events are continuing as planned, but Virginia Street was cordoned off between Third and Fourth streets while police investigated the scene.

Witnesses at the scene took to social media in its immediate wake.

Trista Barnes, 29, of Reno, was at the event with her 6-month-old baby and her boyfriend when she heard shots fired. She became separated from her boyfriend and child.

"Next thing you know everybody was running in a huge crowd after us, and we start hearing gunshots," Barnes said. "My boyfriend calls me from the other side of the street, and we start running."

"I was terrified," she said. "I turn around, I couldn't see my baby, I couldn't see my boyfriend. Everybody is running at me, and I'm thinking it's a shooting.

"I didn't know what was happening. It was terrifying. People were running, people down leaving them on the street. It was scary, it was very scary."



Witness Steven Parks, a vendor for Jax Kettle Korn, told the RGJ that he saw the van turn the corner from Plaza north to Virginia. At that point, he said, several police officers on foot attempted to cut off the vehicle so they could shoot into the passenger side of the van. Parks said he then heard multiple gunshots.

"You see these things in the movies, and know to get down," Parks said.

RGJ reporter Mike Higdon reported seeing three shell casings on the street outside of the investigation area, three bullet holes in the van's right front window and one bullet hole in the driver's-side door.

Brett Rose, 63, of Sparks, was shopping for tools at the nearby pawn shop Palace Jewelry & Loans on Plaza and Virginia streets when the shooting occurred. He said he felt a surge of adrenaline, but wasn't too concerned because the police "got things under control."

"I heard two shots and looked out the windows and saw the crowds around the Reno sign scatter," Rose said. "The van came into view and two cops ran up next to it and fired their guns into the passenger side window. Then the van crashed into the booth."

"At first you just think it's firecrackers for the Fourth of July weekend, but when you see everybody running, the van and the cops firing into it, it's pretty scary," he said. "I'm surprised nobody on the other side of the van was shot because they were shooting through the windows."

Sue Gomes, 67, of Sparks, also heard gunfire while inside a nearby casino.

"Law enforcement rocks in this situation," Gomes said. "Everybody was on it."

"Look at what happened," she said. "It could have gone further."

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation, per Washoe County officer-involved-shooting protocol. The Sparks Police Department is assisting.

Though officials are interviewing dozens of witnesses, they encourage anyone else with information to contact the Washoe County Sheriff's Department at 775-328-3320 or Secret Witness at 775-322-4900; online at www.secretwitness.com; or text the tip to 847411 (TIP 411) with keyword “SW.”

Facebook Live press conference coverage of the incident:

This is a developing story. Check back at RGJ.com for updates.

PRELIMINARY UPDATES:

4:10 p.m. update:

The suspect in the incident has been pronounced dead, according to Bob Harmon of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office.

Harmon said the incident began at approximately 1:30 p.m., during an attempted traffic stop at the intersection of South Park and Kuenzli streets due to the driver's refusal to yield. The driver eventually made his way to East Plaza and North Virginia, where the confrontation took place. After being shot, the suspect was given CPR on the scene and was pronounced dead at Renown.

No one else was in the vehicle with the suspect, Harmon said.

Harmon said the identity of the suspect, an adult male, would not likely be disclosed before Tuesday. No clear motive has yet been determined.

The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation, per Washoe County officer-involved-shooting protocol.

3:33 p.m. update:

Witness Steven Parks, a vendor for Jax Kettle Korn, told the RGJ that he saw the van turn the corner from Plaza north to Virginia. At that point, he said, several police officers on foot attempted to cut off the vehicle so they could shoot into the passenger side of the van. Parks said he then heard multiple gunshots.

"You see these things in the movies, and know to get down," Parks said.

RGJ reporter Mike Higdon reported seeing three shell casings on the street outside of the investigation area and three bullet holes in the van's right front window.

3:17 p.m. update:

Wingfest is continuing as scheduled, but the area of Virginia Street between Third and Fourth streets is cordoned off while police investigate the scene.

3:09 p.m. update:

According to the Reno Police Department, the driver of the van was heading down Plaza toward Virginia, trying to breach the barricade at Virginia. The suspect then swerved toward a police officer who was on foot, apparently with the intent of hitting the officer. That officer shot the suspect at Plaza and Virginia.

3:03 p.m. update:

The Reno Police Department reported that no citizens or officers were injured in the incident. The suspect was apprehended and taken to Renown Hospital.

2:55 p.m. update:

Silver Legacy Resort announced via Twitter that Wingfest events will continue as planned:

Original post:

Reno Police are investigating a shooting that happened at Virginia and Plaza streets in downtown Reno on Sunday afternoon.

Tim Broadway of the Reno Police Department confirms that a shooting has occurred in the area, and that investigation is currently ongoing.

The incident occurred as Wingfest was underway in the immediate vicinity.

RGJ reporters are currently checking into the incident. Check back at RGJ.com for updates.