Sparks police: Security guard who shot armed suspect 'feared for his life'

A Sparks security guard says he was forced to shoot another man, who was reportedly armed with a rifle-type gun, during an incident in a parking lot of a local bar last week.

Carlos Lucas Leyva, 26, was booked Wednesday into the Washoe County Detention Facility on seven charges, including two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of battery with a deadly weapon. He was also accused of being an ex-felon in possession of a gun.

According to the Sparks Police Department, Leyva’s arrest stemmed from a shooting early Saturday morning. The shooting was reported at about 4:24 a.m. at the Aguitas Bar & Grill parking lot on 1825 Prater Way.

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When officers arrived at the scene, an armed security guard working at the bar told them he had shot a man after he saw him exit a vehicle with a rifle-type gun.

The suspect, later identified as Leyva, reportedly aimed the gun at another unarmed man walking through the parking lot. Authorities said he also pointed the gun at the security guard.

“The security guard feared for his and the other victim’s life, and fired his handgun several times at Leyva; striking him once in his upper right leg” police said in a news release on Thursday.

Leyva was taken to an area hospital and was released on Wednesday. He was then taken into custody.

Authorities said the security guard, whose name was withheld, was cooperating with the investigation. No charges were filed against him as of Thursday.

Check with RGJ for more updates as they become available.