Reno PD takes over investigation of suspect killed at Sand Mountain

The Reno Police Department is investigating a Friday night pursuit from Carson City to Sand Mountain and the events surrounding the death of a suspect who was killed in an exchange of fire with law enforcement personnel.

A spokesman for RPD said Monday the investigation will focus on a positive identity of the man since he was not driving his own vehicle. The RPD said an autopsy will also rely on dental records to identify the suspect. The spokesman said a meeting with all the agencies involved in the incident will meet Wednesday morning in Reno.

Churchill County Sheriff Ben Trotter said Friday’s incident briefly involved his agency when they joined the pursuit at Leeteville Junction of a man wanted for questioning in connection with two deaths in New Washoe City south of Reno. Trotter said CCSO deputies stopped their pursuit east of Fallon.

Washoe County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded at about 7:30 p.m. to the 4800 block of Leo Bingo Court on a call of a shooting. When deputies arrived at the house, they discovered a woman who had been shot near the front door and eventually discovered another deceased woman inside the residence. According to the WCSO, the second woman appeared to have suffered trauma to her body and was not shot.

As the WCSO conducted its investigation of the double homicide, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office intercepted a white Jeep Cherokee that was allegedly stolen from the house and driven to Carson City.

A high-speed chase initially involved Carson City deputies and the Nevada Highway Patrol. They were later joined by Lyon County Sheriff’s deputies and then by the CCSO eight miles west of Fallon.

Trooper Dave Gibson, a spokesman with NHP, said he doesn’t know how many troopers from Fallon assisted on the chase. Carson Sheriff Ken Furlong said he had eight deputies in pursuit.

The pursuit headed east to where the suspect turned north and proceeded toward Sand Mountain where he was slowed down by the sand. Gibson said a shootout occurred, but the RPD investigation will determine who shot the suspect and the suspect’s identity.

During their search of the Leo Bingo residence, WCSO deputies found a White Nissan Frontier truck with Arizona license plates in the garage. The WCSO said detectives believe the truck was driven into the garage by the suspect, and that it had been at the Washoe Lake State Park campground days prior to the double homicide.

The WCSO is asking for the public’s assistance in helping to establish the whereabouts of this vehicle in the days prior to Friday’s murders. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Washoe Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at 775-328-3320, or Secret Witness at 775-322-4900.