Probation officer in fatal Reno shooting recently transferred from Fallon

The probation officer involved in a fatal shooting in Reno Wednesday worked in the Fallon Department of Parole and Probation until last month when she transferred to Reno.

Kara Kelly reportedly shot and killed a convicted felon after he grabbed her service weapon during a struggle at the Reno parole and probation office.

Kelly worked seven years in the Fallon office as an adult parole and probation officer. She also worked as a juvenile probation officer in Churchill County between 1996 and 1998.

"Thank goodness she's okay," said De Vere Karlson, chief juvenile probation officer for Churchill County, who supervised Kelly when she worked with juvenile offenders.

Reno police identified the dead man as Christopher Michael Tallman, 25.

According to Associated Press reports, Kelly and officer John Gresock tried to handcuff Tallman after he tested positive for methamphetamine at the Reno parole and probation office.

He allegedly got free and grabbed Kelly's gun from her belt holster. She and Gresock wrestled with the suspect.

During the struggle, Kelly managed to wrestle the gun back and fired a shot that struck Tallman in the head, the AP states, but Tallman continued to fight. As he approached Kelly, she fired her gun three more times, striking Tallman in the chest. He was taken by ambulance to Washoe Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Churchill County Sheriff Richard Ingram said Kelly is an officer who takes police training seriously. She frequently used the county shooting range, he said.

"She certainly paid attention to training involved in officer survival," the sheriff said.

"We all know these situations come with the territory but we hope we don't have to face them."