Update: Man accused of killing Carson City teen appears in court; brother arrested on charges of being an accessory to murder

The man accused of killing a Carson City teen had his first court appearance Friday morning.

Reed Skenandore, 21, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of shooting and killing 18-year-old Grant Watkins Monday morning. Skenandore, along with Jesus Garcia-Manriquez, 18, and Allen Garcia-Manriquez, 19, allegedly set up Watkins to meet them at Blackwell’s Pond Park to buy three ounces of marijuana, but were planning on robbing the teen. The confrontation went south and Skenandore allegedly shot Watkins in the abdomen. Watkins was transported to Renown Regional Medical Center but died a few hours later.

Skenandore appeared in Justice Court Friday morning via teleconference to be appointed a lawyer for his case. He’s being charged with felony open murder with a deadly weapon, felony first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, felony robbery with the use of a deadly weapon, felony attempted murder with the use of a deadly weapon and felony conspiracy to commit robbery. Ben Walker, a private attorney, was appointed to Skenandore because he wasn’t allowed to be represented by a public defender.

Because he has been appointed a public defender in at least two other cases, Skenandore isn’t able to have one because it would create a conflict of interest. He was arrested in October with his brother Jonathan Skenandore, 18, after deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop and both men ran from officers, deputies stated in the arrest report. On the brothers, deputies stated they found a 1911 style handgun and magazine, a gram of cocaine, marijuana and $345 in cash. Reed Skenandore was charged with a prohibited person carrying a firearm, possession of a concealed weapon, obstructing and possession of marijuana.

On his current charges, he’s being held on a no bail hold and is scheduled to have his preliminary hearing Jan. 28.

Three other men have been arrested in connection with the shooting, the Garcia-Manriquez brothers and Jacob Huttman, 19. Both Garcia-Manriquez brothers were charged with the same counts as Skenandore. Huttman is charged with felony accessory to murder and felony conspiracy to commit murder. The brothers had their first court appearance Wednesday and Huttman is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.

Sheriff Ken Furlong also said Friday that an arrest warrant was issued for Jonathan Skenandore, 18. Skenandore was arrested on suspicion of accessory to murder, a category C felony, accessory to robbery, a category C felony, and conspiracy to commit robbery, a Category B felony. He was already in the Carson City Jail on Thursday on a juvenile warrant.

“This case continues to move forward, though slowly due to the number of persons either directly or indirectly involved,” Furlong said. “In addition, early this morning, search teams were able to recover additional evidence presumed to be related to the death of Grant Watkins. The items recovered will be reviewed next week for inclusion or exclusion in the case.”

The Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information to contact the Detectives Division at 887-2500.