Fernley shooting suspect heading back to Lyon County

A Las Vegas man suspected of critically wounding his estranged wife in Fernley on Saturday is expected to be back in Lyon County by Friday.

Lyon County Sheriff's Lt. Rob Hall said that once an attempted-murder warrant is issued for Michael Fixer Newcastle, 35, he will be brought from Nye County where he was arrested. Newcastle also goes by the name of Michael Christopher Young.

About 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, callers reported hearing shots fired in the 3000 block of Farm District Road in Fernley.

When officers arrived they found Shelby Joanette, 36, lying on the side of the road in front of her disabled pickup. She had been shot twice in the head. She remains in critical condition at a Reno hospital.

Hall said Joanette was separated from Newcastle and was staying in Fernley with her parents when the shooting took place.

According to Clark County marriage records, Joanette and Newcastle were married in the summer of 2005. The records indicate he used the name Young on the marriage certificate.

A law enforcement bulletin had been issued after the shooting for Newcastle and he was stopped around 8 p.m. Saturday on Highway 95 just north of Beatty, five hours south of Lyon County.

Hall said officers recovered a 9 mm handgun from Newcastle's vehicle and the vehicle is being brought back to Fernley as part of the investigation.

Investigators are hoping someone may have seen Newcastle or his vehicle - a silver, 2006 Chrysler 300 four-door sedan in Fernley in the hours surrounding the shooting. Hall said business owners in Fernley and nearby towns might also check their surveillance tapes for either Newcastle or his vehicle. Officers have been able to place him in Yerington on the day of the shooting.

Anyone with information on Newcastle should call the Lyon County nonemergency dispatch number at (775) 463-6620 or the Silver Springs detective division of the Lyon County Sheriff's Department at (775) 577-5096 or (775) 577-5023.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.