Civilian Gun Self-Defense Blog

New Details in Deadly Home Burglary

Police are investigating a shooting at a Las Vegas home that left two people dead Thursday night. Police say a man told them that he and his wife came home and were met by a burglar in their house. According to officers, the burglar shot and killed the woman and the husband then shot and killed the burglar.

Some neighbors were crying as they learned of their neighbor's tragic death. As of Friday morning, the streets were still littered with bits of crime scene tape.

Neighbors were blocked out of their homes, and the neighborhood was on lock down for hours.

"We waited for about an hour before we could bring the car here," said Mort Arditti, a neighbor.

Police say the couple returned to their home on Friday night around 9 p.m. and surprised a burglar. Police say the burglar was someone the couple knew and had hired in the past to do work at the home.

The female victim, Sharon Randolph, had lived in the neighborhood for 12 years.

"I just saw her three days ago. Real nice lady. Said how nice the yard looked," said neighbor Robert Donat.

Donat says she asked why he does all his yard work himself. He said he didn't want strangers at his house, but he says Sharon was different.

"They bring a lot of strangers over there to do odd jobs for them. You are just asking for trouble. You don't know the people you are bringing into your house," he said.

According to police, a handyman the couple had hired broke into the house and was burglarizing it when they came home. Police say the suspect shot and killed the Randolph.

"Now she's gone overnight, just like that. And we were all home last night and we heard the helicopter and they were kicking people out of their houses around them. Just amazing," said Donat.

But neighbors say there might be more too it. Sharon's husband had died a few years back and she met a new man on the Internet who wasn't too popular with neighbors.

"A lot of fighting going on, her and her new husband. I guess she found him on the Internet and a lot of U-Haul trucks. She is always taking him back, so not a good thing," said Donat.

Police say that new husband struggled with the burglar and ended up shooting the man to death in the garage.

Labels: home invasion, NV, residence burglary

Victims Fight Back in Home Invasion

One robbery suspect is on the loose and another is in the hospital after four victims fought back.

Police say the four victims were barbecuing when two men with guns entered the home. One of the victims said he made a near-fatal mistake by leaving the garage door partially open. The victims, who do not want to be identified for safety reasons, say they ended up fighting for their lives and thought they might die.

"The look in their eyes, especially when they started beating us in the back of the heads with the guns. It was kind of like someone would torture a little animal and then joking about how they were going to love killing us," said one victim.

The men were pinned to the floor with shotguns. "It got ugly when they went back downstairs and decided to tell the women to undress their clothes," the victim added, "The girls were really crying and you could just tell that they were incredibly upset."

The victim told Eyewitness News that one of the suspects who was preparing to sexually assault the women turned his attention away from the guns and let down his guard.

The two male victims saw their opportunity.

"I grabbed him, threw him down on the ground, grabbed a weight from the weight set and smashed him in the head."

The women also joined in the fight, hitting the suspects with a frying pan.

"One of the girls completely nude managed to grab a gun and shoot the guy in the chest area and in the leg."

"She did what she had to do and I have to be thankful that she was able to do what she did and if she didn't I might not be able to give you this story right now."

The suspect who was shot has serious injuries and is in the hospital. The second suspect is on the run and as for the victims, they have minor injuries.

The police are very cautious not to make this seem like a heroic act. They say fighting back can sometimes end with the victims being more seriously hurt.

Labels: assault, criminal's gun taken away and used against him, home invasion, NV, rape

Report: intruder shot in NW Reno

Reno police responded this morning to a shooting on Chesterfield Lane in Northwest Reno.

Scanner traffic indicates that a resident shot at an intruder at around 7 a.m. The intruder apparently ran away after the shots were fired and has not been located.

The resident has stated that he does not know if he hit the intruder when he fired at him.

More details were not available.

Labels: home invasion, NV

Man shot, killed attempting to carjack security guard

A suspect is dead after messing with the wrong person Tuesday morning. North Las Vegas Police say a man tried to carjack a security guard at about 6 in the morning near Gowan and I-15.

The intended victim and the suspect got into a shootout. The security guard was taken to the hospital with a minor wound. The suspect was taken to UMC where he later died.

Police say the security guard may not face any charges, because it appears he was acting in self defense.

Labels: carjacking, concealed carry permit, NV

Dog attack in SV results in death of horse

A horse was put down in Smith Valley as a result of injuries suffered from an attack by neighbors' pitbulls and the horse owner would like to inform residents of this situation and perhaps save an animal's life.

Lisa Adams of Smith Valley said three or four pit bulls attacked her quarter horse gelding "Zack" Sunday morning and inflicted wounds so severe the equine had to be euthanized.

Adams, who helplessly watched her horse, a barrel racer, being attacked by the dogs of neighbors who had just moved into a rental next door, said it will take a while to overcome this attack. She was struck in the head by her horse as they tried to tend to it after the attack and was briefly hospitalized, while a neighbor, kicked by the horse trying to chase off the dogs, also received medical treatment.
…

The incident began about 7:30 a.m. Sunday in the neighborhood between Day Lane and Artist View in Smith Valley as Mrs. Adams got up and saw a neighbor who had apparently moved in the day before let four dogs out of a small fenced kennel. She said she couldn't tell what kind of dogs they were but admitted she was a little concerned seeing a neighbor with dogs. Her husband Steve, a LCSO deputy, had already left for work.

Lisa Adams then walked to the other side of the house and noticed her 26-year-old mare, who can barely move, walking in circles, dust kicked up.

She ran outside and heard noise in the other horse's stall (a third horse the Adams own is on the other side of their five-acre property). She saw an apparent owner crouched down with one dog to the side and three pit bulls in the stall.

So she ran inside to call 911, Mrs. Adams related, and apparently was screaming for help so the three neighbors arrived. Two tried to get the dogs away from the horse, but one was kicked and injured in the leg, so the other and Mrs. Adams dragged her out of the stall.

"Thank God the dogs didn't turn on her," she said.

Eventually, Adams went into her home to get a pistol and shot one of the dogs, although it survived, as Bolzle said it was a superficial wound. However, Adams said the other dogs then left her horse alone.

(More)

Labels: animal, NV

Man caught assaulting woman shot by victim

A man who was caught sexually assaulting a Sparks woman early Sunday morning was shot in the foot by the woman after her boyfriend interrupted the attack, Sparks police said.

Douglas Mendoza-Lobos was found near Poulakidas Park in Sparks with a gunshot wound to his foot after officers said he raped a 22-year-old woman at gunpoint in her home in the 100 block of Lincoln Way at around 3:30 a.m.

Douglas Mendoza-Lobos has been charged with sexual assault, robbery with the use of a firearm, burglary with the use of a firearm and assault with a deadly weapon.

Labels: NV, rape

Police: Man Shot During Burglary; Man Kills Suspect with Gun

A man is in the hospital after being shot during a burglary Monday afternoon at his south Reno home.

The incident happened just before 1:45pm on Britney Avenue in southwest Reno behind Walmart.

Police say a resident came home from the grocery store to find a suspect burglarizing his home. Both ended up fighting over a gun.

The unidentified resident was shot. He suffered non-life threatening injuries.

But police say he then managed to get the gun away from the suspect and fatally shot him.

The resident is currently recovering at Renown Regional Medical Center.

An investigation is underway.

Labels: criminal's gun taken away and used against him, NV, residence burglary

2 Shot In Coral Ribbon Home Invasion

Police are investigating a home invasion shooting at a home on Coral Ribbon, near Lindell and Robindale.

Metro police tell Action News, a woman came home around 5 AM this morning and was accosted by three African American men.

Her husband came to her aid, and shots were exchanged between the husband and the suspects.

One suspect was hit and died at the scene. The woman was also shot and taken to the hospital.

There is no word yet on her condition.

Police say the other two suspects are now at large.

Homeowner, Suspect Shot During Home Invasion, More Suspects Sought

A home invasion early this morning ended with a gun battle in a gated community in the southwest valley near Robindale and Lindell.

Metro says a woman was shot several times inside her home before her boyfriend killed one of the suspects. But two suspects are still at large and police say they are armed and dangerous.

Normally a quiet neighborhood, the Encantana gated community turned into a huge crime scene just before day break.

Metro spokesman Bill Cassell said, "Bullets struck several nearby residences."

Police say when the woman arrived home, she was accosted by three men.

"Her husband, who was inside the residence, came to her assistance and there was an exchange of gunfire inside the residence," Bill Cassell continued.

The woman was caught in the crossfire. She was shot and injured. One suspect was shot dead at the home. The two other suspects took off.

Police say the woman is hospitalized with multiple wounds, but is expected to survive.

Cassell said, "It's unknown at this point who fired the rounds that struck her."

Identity Learned of Killed Home Invasion Suspect

The suspect shot and killed in reported home invasion this week has been identified. His name is Leland Todd Jordan.

The 28-year-old was killed during a shootout in a gated community. The homeowner reportedly told police he woke up to find his girlfriend being attacked by three armed men. He opened fire hitting one suspect.

The other two got away. The woman was also hit by gunfire in the shoulder and neck -- but her injuries were non-life threatening.

Labels: home invasion, NV, residence robbery

North Las Vegas Store Clerk Shoots & Kills Suspected Robber

North Las Vegas police say a suspected robber has been shot and killed. It happened around 5 AM.

Police say the armed man tried to rob the Korner Store II on Camino Al Norte and Lone Mountain.

The suspect allegedly produced a firearm and threatened the clerk. The store clerk shot him.

The suspect was taken to UMC, but later died.

At this point it does not appear that the clerk will face any charges in this incident.

The deceased suspect has not yet been identified. This incident is still under investigation.

Labels: business robbery, NV

Suspected Robber Left Dead After Attempted Jewelry Store Robbery

A neighborhood is briefly on lockdown, following a shootout in a local jewelry store.

Now one person is dead and police are searching for a possible suspect.

The search is on for that possible suspect, but right now Metro has two people in custody.

It was a crime that had police scrambling through several eastside neighborhoods chasing a suspected robber.

It all started at a jewelry store. Police say two or three men and a woman went in with guns to rob the place.

They say they were confronted by a woman working in the store, and during that run-in one of the suspects ended up shot.

That suspect later died.

People in the neighborhood saw the other suspected robbers run right by them.

Roy Martin Middle School and Sunrise Acres Elementary both went into lockdown, as police chased and caught a man and a woman they say may be involved.

Police believe there may be one more suspect on the loose, and the neighborhood is still shaken up.

Robber dies after being shot by store owner

A robbery suspect is dead following a robbery gone bad at a jewelry store. It happened Tuesday morning at the Gold Doctor jewelry store on Mojave near Charleston. Another suspect is still on the run.

Police say at least four people entered the jewelry store at around 11:30 Tuesday morning; police say at least two of them were armed. It's then that police say a struggle ensued between the suspects and the business owners.

One of the owners managed to wrestle a gun away from a suspect. The owner shot the suspect in the abdomen; he was transported to a local hospital where he later died. As for the other suspects involved, police did managed to detain two, a male and a female just blocks away from the crime scene.

The fourth suspect is still on the loose and police just have a vague description to go on. He is described at a black male adult with very short hair, and he's believed to be wearing a white shirt and dark pants.

Police tell us the owners are obviously shaken up, but fortunately they were not injured. Police also tell us that at this time it's too early in the investigation to talk about whether the owner who shot the suspect will face charges in all of this or if it may just be ruled self defense.

Details into the fatal robbery at local jewelry store

We now know more about a deadly store robbery that happened Wednesday morning. Two suspects are in custody while another is dead - shot by the store owner.

It's back to business at the Gold Doctor jewelry store; the only signs of any crime is a single bullet hole in the door blinds. But a much scarier scene is detailed in the arrest report - an inside look into Tuesday's robbery gone bad.

The report says two suspects, armed with semi-automatic handguns, kicked in the front door and wrestled with store owner Zane Houston. Kenneth Kalbach, another owner, heard the commotion and tried to fight back by jumping on the suspect.

A third employee, Beatriz Hernandez, was held hostage with a gun to her head. Meanwhile, two other suspects, Miya Mason and Thurman Hall, were waiting outside with a getaway car.

As Kalbach watched the robber approach him, he feared for his life but still managed to get the robber's gun; Kalbach fatally shot him in the stomach.

The police report says that Mason and Hall admitted they took part in the robbery, but the investigation is not over yet; one more suspect is still on the loose.

Mason and Hall are expected to appear in court Thursday morning on charges of conspiracy, robbery, kidnapping and murder.

Labels: business robbery, criminal's gun taken away and used against him, NV

Robbery Suspect Recovers After Being Shot By 80 Year Old Homeowner

A man is recovering from a gunshot wound after he tried to rob an elderly man near the Boulder Station hotel and casino Friday night.

Police say the suspect broke into a home near there and tied up the 80 year old homeowner.

Somehow, the homeowner got hold of a gun and shot the suspect. Two other suspects are in custody.

Labels: NV, residence robbery

Resident Shoots Suspected Car Thief

According to police, a resident on Winter Street shot a man Saturday night after finding him in his car.

Police say the suspect in the vehicle approached the resident.

The resident was armed with a shotgun and police say he fired one round, striking the suspect in the upper chest and upper arm.

The suspect was transported to Renown Medical Center where he listed is in serious condition. The investigation is on-going.

Labels: NV, street property theft

Overnight Dispute Leads to Shooting

Reno Police Detectives are interviewing 4 young adults, following a shooting that sent one person to the hospital.

Police say the incident started around 11:15 pm Thursday night in the area off Kirman near the VA hospital. Investigators say a man and woman planned to meet near the VA, but she felt uncomfortable, and told her friends hide in the bushes to protect her.

At one point, the friends believed the woman was threatened and emerged from the bushes to protect her. Police say the man thought they were going to attack him and shot one of the woman's friends in the lower stomach.

The injured man underwent surgery, and police say he is in stable condition this morning.

Detectives say they do not have plans to arrest anyone at this time.

Labels: altercation, NV

Exchange of gunfire during attempted burglary leaves one injured

Law enforcement officials were on the lookout early this week for a Hispanic male in his 20s who was burglarizing a local business when a shooting incident occurred between the property owners and the suspect.

Lyon County Sheriff's Office Deputies were dispatched to 25 Salvage Lane on Sunday at about 10:34 p.m. on a commercial burglary incident that was in progress.

LCSO Detective Jon Mack reported the suspect was removing aluminum car parts and copper wiring from a vehicle located within a storage tank facility grounds.

That night while on the phone with LCSO dispatchers, one of the property owners indicated they had the suspect detained at gunpoint and was in the process of making a citizen's arrest.

At the time, property owner Larry Cavanaugh had detained the suspect with a 12 gauge shot gun, but then a struggle ensued and the suspect was able to obtain the shotgun and fired three rounds, reported Mack.

At the same time Caroline Hagan, property owner, returned fire with a .38 caliber pistol, firing from another location as the suspect left the area said the LCSO detective.

During the gun fight, LCSO Detectives said the suspect shot Hagan in the leg and she was later treated and released from a Reno-based hospital.

Mack indicated Hagan's wound was minor as low base shot gun shells commonly used to shoot small game was used in the shotgun.

It is unknown if the suspect was shot by the property owners gunfire.

Labels: business burglary, NV

Jewelry Store Owner Shoots Robbery Suspect

Three robbery suspects tried to hit a jewelry store Wednesday night, but the victim turned the tables on them. The owner of the jewelry store opened fire hitting one suspect. Two are still on the run.

This is the third such incident this month. The first two in North Las Vegas were deadly.

Just after 7 p.m., the suspects, two men and one woman, tricked the owners to let them into the secured store by posing as customers. Once inside they pulled out at least one gun and demanded jewelry.

Both owners were forced to the ground but one of them was able to get a gun.

It then became a shootout.

Sgt. Rod Hunt, Metro Robbery, said, "The owners and the suspects exchanged gunfire. [It's] unclear who shot first. One of the suspects who was hit was taken to UMC."

The owner was able to shoot one suspect in the spine. The other two got away. It's unclear whether they took any merchandise.
…

This is the third incident in the last month where either a shop owner or clerk has shot a robbery suspect.

"You have the right to protect yourself and your family. And I'm sure people are tired of being robbed and I don't blame them," Metro Sgt. Hunt continued.

Labels: business robbery, NV

Homeowner shoots would-be burglar

A local homeowner shoots and kills a possible burglar. Metro says it happened around 9:30 Sunday night, at a home near Vegas and Buffalo.

Police say a person called 911 saying several men were trying to break in through a window. That's when police say the homeowner fired a gun several times. One of the burglars died at the scene.

The others ran away, but police were able to arrest a 20 year old man. Matthew Carpenter faces attempted burglary charges.

The homeowner was not arrested. The District Attorney will decide if he acted in self defense or if charges should be filed.

Father who killed would-be teen intruder feared for family's safety

Raymond Hill's 12-year-old daughter shook him awake with news no father wants to hear: Someone was trying to break into their house.

It was Sunday about 9:30 p.m. The 34-year-old father reached into his night stand and pulled out his .40 caliber handgun, loaded it and went downstairs, according to a Metropolitan Police Department report.

While walking downstairs, he saw through a window two people in the backyard of his house on the 1600 block of Night Breeze Drive, near Buffalo and Vegas drives. Someone tried to open his locked back door. He waited and saw one of the suspects taking off a screen from his rear window, police said.

Hill then took aim and fired through the window, police said. One person fled from the backyard, but the other didn't. Hill shot 15-year-old Damien Clary through the head, killing him, authorities said.

Police found the teen's body just outside Hill's rear window. Officers also caught a second suspect, Matthew Tyler Carpenter, 20, who was biking away from the house after the shooting, police said. Hill's wife identified Carpenter as one of the men she saw in the backyard, police said.

Authorities booked Carpenter into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. Detectives interviewed Carpenter, who told them that he and two others went to the house intending to break in, police said. Carpenter thought the house was empty, police said.

Carpenter also admitted to smoking marijuana and methamphetamine and drinking two shots of alcohol, police said.

Police didn't arrest Hill, who told them he was "fearing for the safety of his family and himself," police said. Once they've completed their investigation, police will forward their findings to the Clark County District Attorney's office, which will decide whether charges are filed against the homeowner.

State law defines justifiable homicide as a person killing someone as they're trying to commit a felony in his presence or in a dwelling.

A neighbor, Lorenzo Hernandez, 41, said he had heard of at least one burglary on Night Breeze since the summer, but didn't believe crime was rampant in the area.

He added that he too owned a gun and supported his neighbor's decision to shoot the would-be intruder.
"I think if someone was in my backyard, I'm likely to do the same thing," he said.

Labels: NV, residence burglary

N. Las Vegas store owner shoots robber

A North Las Vegas furniture store became the scene of a deadly shooting Thursday night when the store owner shot the person trying to rob him. It happened at Corona Furniture on Civic Center Drive near Lake Mead.

Police say the owner was waiting for a late night delivery when he heard a suspicious knock at the back door. He armed himself, and when he went to the back, the robber lunged at him.

The owner started shooting, hitting the robber who later died at UMC. Right now, this appears to be a case of self-defense, and there are no charges against the store owner.

Labels: business robbery, NV

A convenience store manager shot and killed a robbery suspect and injured another Friday after the men entered his North Las Vegas store and took the manager and several customers hostage.

The two suspects held up the American Mini Market at 2564 Las Vegas Blvd. North on Friday afternoon, North Las Vegas police said. Then, the robbery suspects bound the store manager and several customers using zip ties and tried to rob them, police said.

The manager, whose name was not released, escaped from the ties and retrieved a gun stashed inside the store. Shortly after 2 p.m., the manager exchanged "a bunch" of shots with the suspects, North Las Vegas police spokesman Tim Bedwell said.

Both of the suspects were hit with gunfire.

One of suspects stumbled out of the store and died in the parking lot, Bedwell said. The other, whose name also was not released, was hit in the lower extremities and fled on foot, leaving a trail of blood, he said.

The suspect was caught by police and taken to University Medical Center, where he was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening, Bedwell said. Police said the man could be charged with robbery and murder once he recovers from his wounds. Under Nevada law, a suspect in a felony crime in which a person dies can be charged with murder even if their actions didn't directly cause the death.

No one else was injured in the shooting.

"This is how we like these incidents to end up," Bedwell said.

The customers called the manager a hero.

"He saved us all," said 27-year-old Kevin Aden, who was in the store when the suspects came in.

Aden said that he and the other people in the store were tied up for about 10 to 15 minutes in the back room as the suspects robbed them and the store.

Labels: business robbery, hostage, NV

Pair cleared by jury in killing outside Las Vegas strip club

A jury has cleared two men of murder charges in the 2005 shooting death of a man outside a Las Vegas strip club.

Jesus Vega, a mortgage loan officer and former Marine, and Brian Baker, a mortgage broker, were found not guilty Thursday by a Clark County District Court jury.

But Vega was convicted of a lesser charge of discharging a weapon into a motor vehicle.

The pair were leaving the Sapphire Gentlemen's Club when they encountered Wei Liu, Amir Mogadam and Kristian Wong-Wui in the parking lot.

Baker, 32, was accused of giving an obscene gesture to the three as Mogadam's vehicle passed close to Baker and Vega. Baker testified that he thought he saw one of the men in the vehicle flash a gun.

Vega, 30, fatally shot Liu after Mogadam backed up and started driving toward Vega and Baker, police said.

Defense lawyer Dominic Gentile told the jury that Vega feared for his life and acted in self-defense.

But prosecutor Linda Lewis questioned whether Vega and Baker acted in self-defense. The pair did not run to their vehicles or try to leave after Baker reported seeing a weapon, she said.

Lewis said Liu never stepped out of the vehicle and was shot while riding in the vehicle.

Gentile said Mogadam is a recovering heroin addict and owner of Dope Fiend Records, a Los Angeles-based hip-hop record label.

Gentile said Mogadam lived with Liu in Las Vegas and both had been gang members in Los Angeles.

Labels: altercation, NV

Immediately after Char Johannessen and her 5-year-old daughter left their Reno home Wednesday afternoon, her husband was roused from his afternoon nap by their dog barking outside.

Reflected in the glass of a framed picture, Jeffrey Johannessen could see a man outside the dining room window, adorned with a Halloween picture drawn by his daughter. He watched the black-gloved burglar as he pried at the window with a paint scraper.

Johannessen, who was a deputy in Gillette, Wyo., in the 1980s, grabbed his 12-gauge hunting shotgun from a nearby closet and waited for the suspect he nicknamed "Cool Hand Luke" for his criminal confidence.

The burglar, whom police identified as Ernest Carpenter, never knew Johannessen was in the home until he faced the shotgun and was told to hit the floor.

After a few blows to Carpenter's head with the butt of the shotgun -- one strike causing his dentures to fly out -- Johannessen, 6-foot-5, held the 5-foot-3 suspect until police arrived.

Johannessen, 48, said although he has law enforcement experience from his younger days, he considers himself an average citizen. He and his wife run a real estate business from their home.

"Having an armed populace is good," Johannessen said. "I had my shotgun, but I didn't have to fire it. He got the soft end of it, not the business end."

And Carpenter could've avoided that, Johannessen said.

"If he would have just gotten on the floor like I told him, I wouldn't have even had to have struck him."

Labels: NV, residence burglary

Police search for man shot, handcuffed, by security guard

Authorities are searching for a man who reportedly fled after being shot in the leg and handcuffed by a private security guard in downtown Reno.

Police say the security guard at the closed Sundowner Hotel tried to detain the man for trespassing early Thursday morning. They say a physical confrontation occurred and the security guard fired several shots at the man, striking him once in the leg.

Police say the man escaped when the security guard left to get help. The suspect is described as being a white male in his 20's with a medium build.

Labels: assault, NV

Home invasion victims fight back, prevent robbery

Two victims in an attempted home robbery scared away their intruders Monday night when one victim pointed a gun at one of the suspects.

Police say two suspect tried to open the door on a home on Holcomb Avenue. One resident heard a noise and opened the door.

The suspects then pushed their way into the home, grabbing on victim by the throat and demanded money. One suspect went to the back bedroom where a female victim pointed a hand gun at the suspect, scaring both suspects away from the home.

The first suspect is described as a white male in his 50s, 5'10'', 150-160 pounds, with brown wavy hair.

The second suspect is also a white male, but in his 20s, 5'11'', 170 pounds, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and carrying a crowbar.

One of the victims saw the suspects dive away in a 1986 white Subaru station wagon with the Nevada license plate 983 TFF.

This is the second home invasion in which a home owner was able to protect themselves while frightening off the suspects.

Labels: assault, home invasion, NV, residence robbery

A man fatally shot during an attempted burglary at a vacant house in Sparks has yet to be identified, police said Friday.

Authorities are not releasing the name of the 76-year-old property owner who shot the man with a 9 mm handgun Thursday night. Police said he has not been charged in the man's death.

Detectives could not find any identification on the dead man, detective Frank Granier said. No vehicle were parked outside, and he had entered the residence alone.

Granier said police are waiting for a fingerprint analysis from the Washoe County crime lab.

"We're confident we'll find out who he is," Granier said. "It's just a matter of time."

Police responded to a residential burglary in progress call about 6:15 p.m Thursday in the 600 block of Pyramid Way. When officers got out of the patrol car, they heard a single gunshot, police said.

They found a man lying facedown in an alley behind the house.

The property owner told police he'd come to check on the vacant house, which has been broken into before. When he arrived, he found the back door kicked in and said he could hear movement upstairs, Granier said.

The owner went inside and encountered the intruder on the second floor, Granier said. The property owner said the burglar came at him, and he shot him. The burglar stumbled out of the house and into the alley, police said.

Labels: NV, residence burglary

Would-be robber shot during attempted hold-up

One would-be robber is in the hospital and another in jail after an attempted hold-up Monday night.

Reno police say a 38-year-old man was washing his car at a car wash on Booth Street around 11:00 PM when he was approached by two men, one carrying a small, wooden bat.

Authorities say the two suspects attempted to rob the man, but the victim was armed with a hand gun and shot one of the robbers.

Police were able to locate the suspects at the hospital after one of the men showed up to be treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound.

The un-injured suspect, 18-year-old Luis Alfredo Aguirre, was charged with attempted armed robbery.

Police say the victim has a current concealed weapon permit.

Labels: concealed carry permit, NV, street robbery

Last night, police say three men held up Lee's Discount Liquor store on Rainbow and Oakey, when an unknowing customer walked in.

Witnesses say the men pulled out guns. A customer, Thomas Curtis was also armed. He said he was shot at first, then fired back. Police later stopped a vehicle witnesses say left the property. They don't know if the people inside were part of the robbery. Investigators do not have anyone in custody at this time.

Labels: business robbery, NV

Suspect Dies, Victim Injured After Attempted Robbery

One man is dead and another hospitalized after an attempted robbery ends in gunfire.

Police say an 82-year-old man was washing his car near E. Sahara and Bruce around 10 p.m. last night when two men approached him with weapons and demanded money. The elderly man told the suspects that he had left his money at home.

According to police, one of the suspects got into the back seat of the victim's car, demanding to be taken to the victim's home. The victim had a pistol hidden inside of his car, and he shot the suspect. The suspect in turn fired at the victim, striking him in the chest.

The victim was transported to the hospital where he is in serious condition.

The suspect died from his gunshot wounds.

An accomplice to the robbery was later apprehended and has been booked into the Clark County Detention Center, charged with the Robbery, Kidnap, and Attempted Murder of the 82-year old victim.

Since the death of his accomplice occurred during the commission of these crimes, he has also been charged with Murder.

Police say the elderly man acted in self defense.

Labels: defender shot, NV, street robbery

Deputies continue to investigate Spanish Springs shooting death

Sheriff's deputies continued Monday to investigate the death of a 44-year-old man they believe was killed trying to break into a Spanish Springs home.

Miguel Cruz, who also went by Benito Tapia, of Sparks, was shot to death about 10:20 p.m. Saturday, Deputy Darrin Rice, Washoe County Sheriff's Office spokesman, said.

Deputies are investigating the possibility that the shooter was acting in self defense because Cruz was shot after he tried to break into a house in the 6000 block of Hibiscus Court, Rice said.

At least one person was in the home when the break-in happened, Rice said. Rice didn't know whether the shooter was inside the house.

When deputies arrived, Cruz already had died of a gunshot wound, Rice said.

Authorities did not release other details. No arrests had been made as of Monday, Rice said.

The Washoe County district attorney's office determines whether homicides are justified in possible self-defense situations, Rice said.

Husband wasn't breaking in when killed, says family

Miguel Cruz was not trying to break into a Spanish Springs home when he was shot and killed Saturday, according to his family.

Instead, they said, he had gone to the home to retrieve his family's belongings from the house where he and his wife had been living for nearly a year.

Marcela Fierro, Cruz's wife, said the two met Jon Reynolds through mutual friends. They moved from Carson City in November into his house in the 6000 block of Hibiscus Court, where Fierro cooked and cleaned while Cruz did odd jobs around the house.

However, Fierro said the friendship ended when Reynolds began making romantic advances.

"It became an obsession," she said "He told me he would treat me like a queen. He made a lot of promises."

But, she said, she was never tempted. Cruz "was the love of my life."

"We were poor, but we were millionaires in love," she explained. "I'll love him forever."

She said Reynolds told Cruz he had to leave, but encouraged Fierro to stay. The couple moved out in June and returned to Carson City.

Fierro said she went back to the house to collect their personal belongings Saturday, but Reynolds told her he would not return her things until Cruz payed off a debt. Reynolds couldn't be reached Thursday to tell his side of the story, and police have not made public details of the shooting.

Cruz went to the home later Saturday. He didn't return that night, nor the next morning. Fierro drove to Reynolds' home to see if his car was still there, when, she said, Reynolds' girlfriend told Fierro that Cruz was dead.

It was reported as a home invasion.

(More)

Labels: NV, residence burglary

Charges dropped against war vet

Prosecutors this morning dropped the murder and attempted murder charges that a 20-year-old Iraq war veteran had been facing and will dismiss all remaining charges against him if he completes two therapeutic programs and stays out of trouble.

Matthew Sepi used an assault rifle to kill 47-year-old Sharon Jackson and wound 26-year-old Keven Ratcliff on July 31 in an alley behind the 200 block of New York Avenue. He said he fired in self-defense after being threatened by them, and police found a 9mm gun at the scene and evidence that it had been fired. Sepi's lawyers alleged that it had been fired at Sepi.

Under the terms of the plea bargain struck with prosecutors, Sepi will plead guilty to one count each of felony possession of a dangerous weapon and a gross misdemeanor charge of possession of a concealed weapon.

But if Sepi completes a 90-day drug and alcohol program in Prescott, Ariz., as well as a seven-week combat trauma therapy program in Topeka, Kan., and commits no violent crimes during that nearly 5-month-long span, his case will be dismissed.

If Sepi fails to complete the programs he will be sentenced for the gross misdemeanor and could be placed on probation or serve up to a year in jail.

If Sepi commits a violent crime he will face punishment for the felony possession of a dangerous weapon charge. The charge, in his case, is punishable by probation or 1 to 5 years in prison.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owens said it had been clear from the beginning of the case that Sepi acted in self-defense and the resolution of the case was an example of the balance of justice the district attorney's office always hopes to achieve.

"Prosecutors are charged with doing what is fair and just," Owens said. "Unfortunately someone was killed and another injured but the totality of the facts and evidence in the case shows the two victims were lying in wait and fired first."

While authorities determined that the shooting was justified, they also believe Sepi needs counseling not just for his own benefit but to ensure the community he will not be carrying a firearm around the streets in that manner again, Owens said. Sepi's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Nancy Lemcke, said "the ultimate dismissal of the charges is a very fair resolution."

(More)

Labels: assault, NV

Henderson man shoots alleged home invaders

A Henderson man shot and wounded two brothers who allegedly broke into his home near College Drive and East Horizon Drive on Monday night, Henderson Police said.

The homeowner, whose name was withheld by police, shot 24-year-old Joey Bolden, and 25-year-old DelMarco Bolden at the house in the 500 block of Old Highlands Street about 8 p.m., Todd Rasmussen, spokesman for Henderson Police, said.

Joey Bolden was treated and released from UMC, then was booked into jail, while DelMarco Bolden remained at the hospital this morning, Rassmussen said.

A UMC spokeswoman said DelMarco Bolden was in stable condition this morning.

The brothers are being charged with felony home invasion, Rasmussen said.

The preliminary investigation indicates that the homeowner was acting in self-defense, so he has not been charged in connection with the shooting, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said the Boldens and possibly one other suspect broke into the home through a back door. The homeowner heard the men inside the home and fired in their direction, striking the brothers, Rasmussen said.

Labels: NV, residence burglary

Shooting in Reno park puts 1 in hospital

A barking dog led to an argument and a life-threatening gunshot wound in a Reno park late Wednesday night.

Police said a 38-year-old man was sitting in Huffaker Park munching a hamburger and fries at about 10 p.m. when a man walked by with his three dogs.

Kevin Kramer’s cocker spaniel, Harley, barked at Willard “Ross” Brymer Jr. Police said Brymer was shot in the chest during the dispute. Brymer underwent surgery Thursday at Washoe Medical Center, Lt. Ron Donnelly said.

Kramer, 51, said during a Thursday interview he shot Brymer in self defense after being hit in the head at least twice and knocked to the ground. Before that, Kramer said he showed Brymer his gun and told him to leave.

“I was in fear of my life,” Kramer said, adding he’s been walking in Huffaker Park for the past 15 years without incident. “I hoped that he was just belligerent and would go away, but unfortunately he didn’t.”

After the Reno men exchanged words, Kramer said he was waiting for traffic to clear to cross the street when he saw Brymer sprint up to him. He said Brymer continued to yell at him about controlling his dog and got very close to his body. Kramer said he showed Brymer his gun and told him to go away, which prompted Brymer to say “shoot me.”

As Kramer was falling to the ground, he said he fired one shot. He then called police on his cell phone while Brymer collapsed in the street.

“I’m glad I took the course to get my permit to carry a concealed weapon because it probably saved my life,” Kramer said. “If I hadn’t been armed, I would not be talking to you today. This just really reinforces having a gun, because you just never know what’s going to happen.”

No arrests were made Thursday and police are looking for more witnesses. Donnelly said detectives have received conflicting reports about what occurred before the shooting.
…

Brymer’s deceased father, Willard Ross Brymer Sr., was sent to prison on a manslaughter charge for the May 1976 killing of boxer Oscar Bonavena at the Mustang Ranch, where the senior Brymer worked as a bodyguard for brothel owner Joe Conforte. He died in 2000 after serving a separate prison term for arranging the sale of Valium to undercover police.

The son served a prison sentence in Nevada after being convicted of possession of narcotics.

Labels: assault, concealed carry permit, NV

Newspaper carrier shoots teenager who tried to steal his vehicle, authorities say

A 17-year-old shot by a newspaper carrier after allegedly trying to steal his delivery vehicle also is suspected of being involved in two separate shootings 48 hours apart.

The teenage boy, whose name was not released because he is a minor, is being treated at Washoe Medical Center for a gunshot wound to his stomach and two to his arm, Reno police said.

What started the boy’s wild weekend ride was a fight about 11:45 p.m. Friday at the Frog Pond Bar, 1601 Lewis St.

Lt. Ron Donnelly said the friend of the boy fought in the bar about a woman. The fight spilled into the parking lot, he said, and the boy allegedly fired shots into the air and at the man’s vehicle, damaging its windows. The boy and his friend fled.

Gang-related fight

About 2:15 a.m. Sunday two groups of people had a gang-related fight at a downtown Reno bar, Donnelly said. The boy is suspected to have been involved.

Shortly after at a downtown parking garage, the groups shot at each other and drove away in two vehicles: a silver sports utility vehicle and red pickup.

Donnelly said the groups continued to shoot at each other as they drove throughout the city. The pickup struck the SUV, causing the engine to ignite and disabling it. The occupants of both vehicles fled.

About 4 a.m., the 17-year-old’s parents called police and said he dropped off the red pickup in their driveway and it was laden with bullet holes, Donnelly said.

Thirty minutes later, Jonathan Hafalla, 34, an independent contractor, was filling newspaper boxes in the 1300 block of Carville Drive with copies of the Reno Gazette-Journal. He had left the engine running while he filled the boxes.

Tried to drive away

Donnelly said the 17-year-old got inside Hafalla’s vehicle and tried to drive away. Hafalla, who has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, fired at the vehicle and commanded the boy to stop. At one point, the boy put the vehicle in reverse, nearly striking the man, Donnelly said.

The boy was shot three times. He stumbled out of the vehicle and Hafalla held him at gunpoint while police were en route, Donnelly said. Hafalla has not been charged with a crime.

Donnelly said when the teen is released from the hospital he will be arrested on felony charges related to the attempted theft of Hafalla’s vehicle and possible charges from the other shootings.

Labels: assault, carjacking, concealed carry permit, NV

Police report shots fired at storage yard

A Reno storage shed manager traded gunshots with a suspected burglar who hid while a second suspect climbed a fence to escape, police said.

No one was hurt in the Wednesday night’s incident.

While police said the manager was lawful in defending himself and the property, they do not encourage people to take the law into their own hands.

Lt. Ron Donnelly suggested citizens call the police and be the best possible witness to help the investigation.

“We don’t want citizens to be put in harm’s way,” he said.

About 11:30 p.m. Wednesday the manager of Secure Self Storage at 4370 Rewana Way responded to an alarm at one of the storage sheds, police said.

He reportedly fired a gunshot into the air when he saw a man climbing a fence.

Donnelly said a second suspect hiding by a storage bin fired two to three shots at the manager.

He said the manager then returned fire and ran to get more bullets for his gun.

The suspects fled.

Labels: business burglary, NV

Neighbor Claims Self-Defense In Shooting

A woman is dead after a neighbor let her in his Las Vegas apartment and shot her dead when she attacked his wife.

Police say the 24-year-old woman went door-to-door about 9:20 PM last night in a complex (near Sahara Avenue and Durango Drive) in the city's northwest.

The residents of one apartment, a married couple, allowed the woman in thinking she needed help. The woman began rambling incoherently, and displayed a large butcher knife in a threatening manner

Authorities say the man picked up a handgun and ordered the woman to leave. The woman attacked the wife and that's when he shot her.

Detectives interviewed the woman's husband, who explained his wife had been displaying odd behavior over the past two days but that she was not being treated.

Police investigation has determined that the husband acted in self-defense and he was not arrested.

Labels: assault, NV

Police probe unrelated shootings; one dead

Metro Police were investigating two separate shootings this morning that were apparently self-defense -- one left an alleged home invader dead and the other left a man suffering from a shotgun blast in a trailer park.

Officers responded to the Adobe Villas apartment complex in the 3500 block of East Lake Mead Boulevard near Pecos Road after a 34-year-old shooting victim at University Medical Center told hospital personnel he had shot a would-be robber in his apartment this morning, police said.

The incident occurred between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. after the alleged intruder entered the man's second-floor apartment, Homicide Sgt. Clint Robison said.

A violent struggle followed, in which furniture and other belongings were damamged (sic), Robison said. The apartment resident was then shot twice before he killed the intruder.

The wounded man's injuries were not life-threatening and he was recovering this morning at UMC, officials said.

Police had not released his name this morning.

Detectives are looking into whether the two men knew each other, Robison said. Evidence indicated the resident was trying to defend himself, he said, and the resident is not expected to be charged with a crime.

"It looks like self-defense," Robison said. "But usually it's the other way (with the resident as the victim)."

Police said another man may have been involved in the botched robbery attempt, but no description or information about his alleged role was available this morning.

Angel Mares, 18, said she had watched this morning from her apartment two doors away from where the shooting occurred.

She said she does not know her neighbor, but the complex was frequently the site of violence.

"I hear a lot of fights," Mares said as she held her 1-year-old son, also named Angel. "Someone is always fighting. It's crazy. That's why I'm leaving."

A second shooting this morning, also apparently a case of self-defense, occurred in a mobile home park near Craig Road and Rancho Drive, police said.

A man who lives there told police that he heard noise outside about 6:30 a.m. and saw his former roommate on a ladder, trying to get into a tall backyard shed, Officer Jose Montoya, police spokesman, said.

The resident, armed with a rifle, confronted his ex-roommate and ordered him to leave the property, but the man allegedly refused, police said.

The former roommate pulled out a knife and came toward the resident, and the resident shot him, Montoya said. The wounded man was in critical condition at UMC this morning, officials said.

Montoya said that in the last few months police had been called to investigate arguments and fights between the two men at the trailer, he said.

It was not clear this morning whether the shooter would face any charges, police said.

"Everything looks like it was self-defense," Montoya said.

Labels: assault, home invasion, NV

Man killed in Sparks during struggle

A man was shot to death Friday after kicking down the door of his former girlfriend’s apartment and fighting with a male friend who had been asleep in a bedroom, Sparks police said.

The name of the deceased was not immediately released, pending the notification of relatives.

Charles Ketcham, 49, shot the former boyfriend several times with a handgun after the ex-boyfriend was beating his head with a metal lamp, police said. REMSA paramedics took the ex-boyfriend to Washoe Medical Center where he died.

The incident began around 2:40 a.m. when police received a call about an unwanted ex-boyfriend at an apartment on Beacon Hill Court, officers said.

When officers arrived, they found the ex-boyfriend in an upstairs bedroom with multiple gunshot wounds. The intruder reportedly attacked the woman before the shooting, according to authorities.

They said that in late November, the man had moved out of the apartment he had shared with the woman.

Ketcham was treated for head injuries and released.

He was described by authorities as a co-worker of the woman and had been asked by her Thursday to help get a restraining order against the ex-boyfriend. The former girlfriend had received a restraining order, but police said they did not believe it had been served.

Ketcham had fallen asleep at the woman’s residence and was there when the ex-boyfriend kicked down the door, police said.

Labels: assault, domestic dispute, home invasion, NV

Ex-boyfriend killed in Sparks during confrontation

A man broke into his ex-girlfriend's apartment and threatened her and a friend before he was shot and killed early Friday, Sparks police said.

The name of the deceased was withheld until relatives are notified.

The incident began around 2:40 a.m. when police received a call regarding an unwanted ex-boyfriend at an apartment on Beacon Hill Court, officers said.

When officers arrived they found the ex-boyfriend in an upstairs bedroom with multiple gunshot wounds. He died later at Washoe Medical Center, police said.

Authorities said the man had moved out of the apartment he shared with the woman in late November.

On Thursday, the woman asked a co-worker to help her get a restraining order against her former boyfriend, police said. A restraining order was issued but investigators don't think it had been served yet.

The co-worker, Charles Ketcham, fell asleep at the woman's residence and was there when the ex-boyfriend kicked down the door, police said.

Ketcham was beaten on the head with a metal lamp, police said. The intruder reportedly then attacked the woman, and Ketcham shot him with a handgun.

Ketcham was treated at the hospital for head wounds. The woman refused medical treatment, police said.

An investigation continued.

Labels: domestic dispute, home invasion, NV

Man shot, killed after 911 call

A 44-year-old man was shot and killed Monday night after police received a 911 call stating he was trying to break into a home where his wife was staying.

The wife of the slain man had called police about 8 p.m. Monday, claiming her husband had battered her, according to Henderson police.

The woman and a male friend then left the Las Vegas home and went to another friend's home near Warms Springs Road and Green Valley Parkway, police said.

The woman's husband showed up at the home about 10:30 p.m., and she called 911 about the same time to report he was trying to break into the home, Rasmussen said.

The woman's male friend shot the husband when he entered the home, Rasmussen said.

Labels: domestic abuse, home invasion, NV

PVT columnist shoots intruder

MAN CRASHED ROCK THROUGH DOOR WINDOW TO GAIN ENTRY; SUSPECT'S FAMILY CONTACTS POLICE

Pahrump Valley Times outdoors columnist Dan Simmons shot and wounded an intruder Tuesday morning during a terrifying home invasion.

According to Lt. Bill Becht, David Patillo Jr., described as a Hispanic male in his early to mid 20s, was preparing to surrender to authorities, though that had not occurred by press time.

Simmons, still shaken from the incident a few hours later, said he was awakened at 5:30 a.m. by a woman living in his guesthouse who said somebody was trying to break into the residence at Simmons' central Pahrump home.

"I grabbed my gun and went outside as my neighbor called 911," recounted Simmons. "Nothing. Nobody was there. The police showed up immediately, but there were no bad guys."

Not too long after the police departed, the neighbor and her seven-year-old daughter were at Simmons' home. The woman was making tea when she told Simmons someone was walking to the door.

Thinking it was a policeman; Simmons walked to the kitchen door and looked through the door window to see who had arrived. "This is when things got really dramatic," said Simmons. "He was a small man with a hooded sweatshirt, work gloves and one of those Mickey Mouse respirators. All I could see were his eyes."'

Simmons said the man told him to step outside; instead he went to retrieve his .357 handgun for the second time in an hour. He ordered his neighbor and her daughter into a backroom. A moment later the inlaid glass of his front door shattered. Simmons returned to the kitchen and saw the suspect in his home. He aimed and fired, hitting the suspect in the left shoulder. The bullet traveled through the man's body and lodged into the doorjamb.

Simmons said the man dropped down, uttered an expletive, and then stood back up and fled. Police were once again summoned to the home. "I told them I shot the guy."
…

Patillo reportedly fled to nearby Comstock Park where he shed his bloody clothes. According to Sheriff Tony DeMeo, who said Simmons' actions constituted a clear-cut case of home defense, Patillo was not seriously injured. "(The suspect's) family has been in contact with us," DeMeo said.

Lt. Bill Becht conjectured Patillo would turn himself into authorities once the family retains an attorney. There's a possibility the lawyer might handle another case for the man. On Sept. 28 he was arrested and charged with statutory sexual seduction.

For Simmons and his neighbor life took a dramatic turn this week. "Yesterday I felt secure in my own home," he said. "Today, I don't feel safe. Not one bit ... and I'm taking precautions. I advise everyone else in town to do the same."

Labels: home invasion, NV

Homeowner Kills Intruder Neighbor

It was a strange day on the city's southeast side Friday. A man shot and killed his neighbor after the neighbor broke into his home. It all happened around 2 a.m. near Hacienda and Pecos.

Sgt. Mike Thompson, with Metro Homicide, said, "It was a struggle -- blows between the suspect and victim."

The incident was the result of a bizarre home invasion leaving one man dead and one family traumatized. "About 1:30 this morning, both residents heard a loud crash. The homeowner armed himself with a pistol," Sgt. Thompson continued.

What's unusual was that the intruder and the victims were backyard neighbors. The strange chain of events started when the intruder -- identified by friends as George Morrelli -- started banging on a neighbor's door and then broke into his backyard neighbor's home.

But the homeowner there was armed and ready. Sgt. Thompson said, "He met the intruder and got involved with the intruder. He discharged his weapon."
…
Sgt. Thompson said, "He appears to have some type of mental illness. He apparently exhibited some strange behavior over the last few months."

The man's bizarre behavior included smashing his own satelite dish and shooting his own TV set. No one knows what made George Morrelli snap. But neighbors say he was heavily medicated and had difficulty coping with his Vietnam War experience.

It is unlikely the homeowner will face criminal charges since police say he was defending his life, his family and his home.

Labels: home invasion, NV

Daughter kills father after he shoots mother

A teenage girl shot and killed her father Wednesday morning after he kidnapped her and two sisters at gunpoint and shot their mother in the face, authorities said.

Walter Nelson Ball III, 43, was found shot to death in his Jeep Cherokee in an isolated area near Lahontan State Park. The discovery came about 8 a.m. after his three daughters, ages 13, 16 and 19, made their way to a road where they flagged down an officer.

Police had been looking for the girls since 4 a.m., when their mother, Cindy Ball, called to say she'd been shot in the face by her estranged husband and that he'd abducted the girls.

"Detectives are investigating the possibility that Ball sexually abused the victims during the kidnapping," said Lyon County sheriff's Capt. Jeff Page. ""There's no rhyme, there's no reason. This is simply the most evil thing I've ever heard of in my career."

It appears Ball eventually fell asleep at Lahontan Reservoir ,and it was then that one of the girls shot him, Page said. He declined to reveal which of the three sisters fired the gun.

"These girls were scared to death. They believed they were going to die," he said.

The Nevada Appeal is withholding the names of the daughters. No charges are pending against them, Page said.

(MORE)

Labels: assault, domestic abuse, kidnapping, NV

Homeowner, car vandals trade shots outside North Vegas home

A Las Vegas homeowner traded gunfire with vandals stealing the tires and rims from his sport utility vehicle Tuesday morning.

No one was hurt, but authorities say the man's SUV, his home and at least one neighboring home were hit by bullets during the shooting on Grey Knoll Circle.

Courtney Hunt says he was awakened by his dog barking, and confronted the vandals, who shot at him before he shot back. Hunt shot again at the vandals as they drove away with three of his four expensive rims.

Police are looking for the vandals, and investigating whether Hunt should face criminal charges for discharging his gun in the street outside his home.

Labels: NV, street property theft

Burglary ends in shooting

Before Thursday morning, Bob Sherman's pistol sat unused in his night stand for a decade.

That changed when the 59-year-old was awakened by a noise outside his home.

The former Marine grabbed his 9 mm pistol and investigated. Several tense minutes later, a confrontation with a burglar ended with Sherman firing at the burglar's car as it drove away.

"I wanted, No. 1, to send a message, 'Don't come back here,' and No. 2, I wanted to mark the car so we could identify them," Sherman said.

Las Vegas police were investigating the 5:40 a.m. shooting on Del Monte Avenue, near Oakey and Valley View boulevards, but had no suspects, Sgt. Matt McCarthy said.

Sherman could face charges for shooting at the car, but McCarthy said it was too early to know whether he will be charged.

Labels: NV, residence burglary

Reno man pulls gun on suspected burglar

A Reno man suspected of trying to break into a Ford truck was held at gunpoint by the owner until police arrived, authorities said.

The Reno truck owner told police he saw Bernardo Torres, 28, try to break into his vehicle about 3 p.m. Friday in the 700 block of Gentry Way. He took a handgun from his house and called police.

Torres had driven to Gentry in a stolen Toyota Corolla, police said. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted vehicle burglary and possession of a stolen motor vehicle and booked into Washoe County Jail.

Labels: NV, street property theft