Man to stand trial in shooting at deputy

by F.T. Norton

Appeal Staff Writer

A Carson City man suspected of shooting at a deputy was bound over to district court to face charges of attempted murder.

Justice of the Peace Robey Willis believes prosecutors have evidence to try Raul Perez-Sandoval, 22, on charges of attempted murder, attempted murder with the intent to promote activities of a gang, assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote activities of a gang and discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle in a populated area with the intent to promote activities of a gang.

According to court records, Carson City Sheriff's Deputy Gary Underhill was working speed enforcement on College Parkway on Jan. 20 when he was fired on by a passing vehicle. The bullet missed, and Underhill chased the vehicle into the Comstock Mobile Home Park.

There, police arrested Gustavo Mejia, 22 and Christian Quirarte, 21, but two others in the vehicle fled. In the coming days, Perez-Sandoval was identified as the suspected shooter and Abel Rivera, 34, is believed to have been another passenger in the vehicle at the time of the shooting. Both were arrested. Perez-Sandoval is the only person charged in the shooting.

Quirarte had his probation revoked for a March fight in which he attacked a rival gang member with a baseball bat and was sentenced to serve six months in jail.

Mejia remains in Carson City custody on an immigration hold and is also charged with gross misdemeanor defacing jail property and misdemeanor graffiti after he allegedly wrote on his cell walls while in jail.

Abel Rivera is in federal custody in Reno on an immigration hold.

Perez-Sandoval remains in custody in the Carson City Jail; no date has been set for his appearance in district court. The attempted murder charges carry 40-year prison terms. Assault with a deadly weapon with the gang enhancement carries 12 years. And discharging a firearm with a gang enhancement carries 30 years.

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