On Friday at 6:09 p.m., a Carson City Sheriff’s Deputy checked out of his patrol vehicle at the southwest corner of the Carson City Nugget, informing the dispatcher of a suspicious person. At 6:12 p.m., the 911 Dispatch Center received multiple calls of shots being fired in the approximate area. Other Carson Sheriff’s patrol officers converged on the scene and discovered the deputy sheriff with severe head wound(s), and a suspect with multiple gunshot wounds. The deputy was immediately transported to Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center by fellow officers, while other officers and Carson Fire/Paramedics treated and transported the suspect to Care Flight for removal to Renown Medical Center. No other injuries were reported.
Preliminary information received has suggested when the deputy aheriff made verbal contact with the suspect, a physical altercation immediately ensued, and the Deputy was slashed with a knife. As a result of the attack, the Deputy drew his weapon and fired on the suspect five times. All other details are pending investigative analysis.
The area surrounding the Nugget Casino remained in lockdown for the next seven hours while officers from Carson, Douglas, NV State DPS Investigations Division, NHP, and Washoe Crime Lab processed the environment for evidence and event re-construction. Of note, Carson City Deputies aren’t currently equipped with “body worn cameras.” Witnesses to the event, including two Nugget security officers who were engaged in the fight, were transported to the Carson Sheriff’s Office for immediate interviews. Patrons to the Nugget weren’t affected by the incident.
The identities of the Deputy and suspect are anticipated to be released on Monday. However, it was verified late Friday night the suspect wasn’t a Carson City resident, but a known transient homeless person from outside of Carson and likely arrived in town earlier in the day. The deputy sheriff was released from the hospital late Friday night where he was treated for “slashing” knife wounds. The suspect remains in the care of Renown Medical Center with gunshot wounds to his body and limbs.
In agreement with local agencies, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has assumed the lead position investigative agency into the event, and is being supported and assisted by the NV DPS Investigations Division. The Carson City Sheriff’s Office will conduct its own internal investigation into the policies, practices, and training related to the incident.