Sarah Litz

slitz@rgj.com

An officer is injured, one suspect is dead and police are seeking a juvenile after an officer-involved shooting overnight in south Reno.

Agencies are looking for a suspect police identified as Erick Bernal, 17. A previous press statement identified Bernal as a known gang member. Bernal was described as a Hispanic male, 5 feet 8 inches tall and approximately 135 pounds with shaved hair.

Bernal is considered a public safety risk and anyone who knows of his whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office said.



The incident began as a traffic stop at 9:40 p.m. Thursday on Kietzke Lane just north of Peckham Lane, said Bob Harmon of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, which is leading the investigation.

A list of officer-involved shootings in the Reno-area since 2016

During the traffic stop, police reported shots fired from the vehicle, injuring one officer, Harmon said. Two male suspects tried to flee on foot and there was an exchange of gunfire among the officers and suspects. One of the suspects was injured and the other suspect, later identified as Bernal, fled.

The injured suspect later died at an area hospital.

One Reno Police officer was injured by gunfire and remained in an area hospital Friday morning. According to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, the unnamed officer is in stable condition Friday afternoon.

In a written statement, Mayor Hillary Schieve said, "We are extremely relieved to hear that this brave Reno Police officer is stable and is expected to fully recover from this tragic incident. I want him to know that the Biggest Little City has him in our thoughts and prayers and that we are wishing for a speedy recovery."

This is the second fatal shooting in a week involving Reno police. Steven Valenzuela, a 24-year-old from Las Vegas, was shot and killed Feb. 23 at the Eldorado Hotel Casino in downtown Reno.



Anyone with information that may assist this investigation is asked to call the Washoe County Sheriff's Office at (775) 328-3320 or Secret Witness at 322-4900, secretwitness.com, or text the tip to 847411 (TIP 411) keyword - SW

The Associated Press contributed to this report.