Police need help identifying shooting victim

Washoe County authorities are seeking help in identifying a woman found shot at the south end of Reno on New Years Eve.

The woman was alive when discovered at 5:50 p.m. by two Washoe County Sheriff's deputies on a paved turnout on the Mount Rose Highway near Highway 395.

The victim said a white male had shot her and taken her purse and she called herself "Stephanie" before losing consciousness as deputies provided emergency care.

The woman had been shot in the abdomen and there were signs she had been involved in a struggle. She was taken to Washoe Medical Center and underwent surgery, but died around 11 p.m.

The victim was a white woman 45-55 years old with brown hair dyed to an auburn color and with brown eyes, according to sheriff's Lt. Doug Gist. She was 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighed 155 pounds.

She was wearing blue denim pants, black shoes and a pink pullover sweater with rhinestones around the collar.

The sheriff's office prepared a composite drawing of the victim to help with identification. Gist said potential witnesses should remember such a drawing does not reflect the exact appearance of a victim.

Gist said the department has received many calls from the community about the shooting, which were all investigated, but that the victim was still unidentified as of late Saturday afternoon.

Anyone with information about the shooting or the victim can contact Washoe County Sheriff's detectives at 328-3001 or Secret Witness at 322-4900.