Storey commissioner stopped suspect in Lockwood death

A Storey County commissioner said Wednesday that he intervened in the beating death of a Lockwood woman Sunday, allegedly at the hands of the commissioner's daughter's boyfriend.

Commissioner Bob Kershaw said he stopped suspect Ryan Bonnett from continuing to beat Eileen Pruitt, 47, after his daughter ran inside Kershaw's house and said Bonnett was in a fight.

"I saw from the steps he was beating her and I ran down the steps and pulled him off of her," said Kershaw. "I was in a state of shock. I couldn't believe what I was seeing."

Kershaw said his daughter Nicole was bringing Bonnett home because he had too much to drink at a party with friends. The couple had been dating for several months, Kershaw said.

According to what Nicole told him, Kershaw said the couple got out of their car outside Kershaw's home as Pruitt was walking past with her dogs.

"Ryan said, 'Hey man, you got a cigarette,' and the dog got agitated and jumped at my daughter and he kicked the dog," said Kershaw. Nicole told her father that the woman swung at Bonnett and he hit her and knocked her down.

"When I got out there, she was down, and he was kicking her and I pulled him off," said Kershaw.

"I don't think he knew who the hell I was. I had to hold him at arm's length to make sure he wasn't going to take a swing at me. It was crazy. He's never, ever acted this way."

Kershaw said he called 911 and tried to help Pruitt with assistance from Storey County dispatchers. She was rushed to Renown Regional Medical Center where she underwent emergency surgery, but died hours later from her injuries.

"I was hoping she would have made it," said Kershaw. "If I had only known two minutes earlier."

Wednesday, Bonnett appeared in Storey County Justice Court where he was informed that charges of open murder and battery on a police officer were filed against him.

A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 20. He is being held without bail.

"It's just a tragedy. There are no excuses for what happened, so I want to make sure that's clear," said Kershaw. "I did everything I could. I know my daughter wishes there was something she could have done."