A suspect has been arrested in connection to the four homicides earlier this month in Douglas County and South Reno.

Wilber Martinez-Guzman, 19, was arrested at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Carson City and is being held there on charges related to burglary and possession of stolen property, and charges related to his immigration status.

At a news conference Sunday, authorities said murder charges should be following soon

Authorities stressed that Martinez-Guzman’s arrest should bring relief to a community that’s been on edge since the string of killings started last week.

Connie Koontz, 56, was found dead inside her home in Gardnerville Ranchos on Jan. 10. On Jan. 13, Sophia Renken, 74, was found dead in her home about a mile away.

Jerry David, 81, and his wife Sherri, 80, were found in their South Reno home on La Guardia Lane Wednesday afternoon. Both died from gunshot wounds.

“We felt it was important for the public to know that we are confident we have the person responsible for the La Guardia Lane homicides as well as the homicides in Douglas County,” Washoe Sheriff Darin Balaam said. “The information we have now indicates there are no outstanding suspects at this time, but the investigation is still ongoing.”

Authorities did not say what connection there might have been between the suspect and victims.

Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong said federal immigration authorities told his office that Martinez-Guzman had been in Carson City for about one year and was in the country illegally.

Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley said he hopes the region should find some solace now that the only suspect is in custody.

“We’ve worked hard to bring some peace to you,” Coverley said.

Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks said more details about Martinez-Guzman and the investigation will be made public soon.

Investigation in Carson City

Carson City Sheriff’s deputies were still searching a home associated with Martinez-Guzman on Sunday afternoon.

Several neighbors described seeing law enforcement officers swarm the home Saturday night. Many described seeing armed SWAT members at the home.

“I was at the grocery store, and when I came home, I saw all the patrol vehicles,” said 35-year-old Rosa Abundis in Spanish.

Abundis was one of a handful of neighbors who witnessed the search. Several neighbors described seeing a woman and three children, one of which was a toddler, come out of the home.

Furlong said Martinez-Guzman was pulled over by deputies for an immigration issue Saturday night.

“It was a tactical arrest” related to immigration, Furlong said.

He said during the arrest, the police car and the suspect’s car collided in the parking lot at the Carson Mall.

Relief for community

The killings sent a tremors of fear throughout the rural neighborhood in south Reno, feelings that were quickly assuaged by news of the arrest.

Abbi Whitaker, a public relations executive who lives a couple doors down from the Davids, said she and her family left their home to stay in a hotel and then a relative’s house for a few nights.

“We didn’t even have a key for our front door,” she said. “That’s just how the Whitakers are. We would leave our front door open, our garage open.”

When they returned to their house they brought out a locksmith to secure the front door and armed themselves. Whitaker also took lessons at the gun range.

“A shotgun sat by our bed, loaded,” she said. “We slept with all of the lights on.”

When they heard news of a suspect’s arrest, they were immediately relieved.

“My husband looked at me and he said, ‘I can breathe again,’” Whitaker said.

Caroline Moassessi, who lives across the street from the Davids, said she also was nervous after the killings, but felt safe with the constant law enforcement presence.

“We slept really well with all the law enforcement on the street,” she said. “But you could feel the tension in the air (in the neighborhood).”

Moassessi said she felt relieved by the arrest, but heartbroken for the David family.

“I’m emotionally tired. I don’t know whether to celebrate. It’s hard to know how to feel,” she said.

Both Moassessi and Whitaker praised the work by law enforcement.

“How impressive,” Moassessi said. “From Wednesday to Sunday. That’s such a short amount of time. I’m in awe. I feel so grateful and proud.”