S.W.A.T. secures home in shooting search

A S.W.A.T. team from the Carson City Sheriff’s Office secured a residence in the 2600 block of Carmine Street around 9 p.m. Tuesday so detectives could further investigate a gang-related shooting from January.

Sheriff Ken Furlong told the Appeal on Wednesday there were no issues with the operation. Residents were cooperative as a tactical team secured the residence of a suspect who was taken into custody Jan. 25, Furlong said. The street was closed for several hours Tuesday night as detectives executed a search warrant and seized evidence, including two handguns and ammunition connected to a Jan. 24 shooting in east Carson.

“Because we were dealing with guns, we felt it was best to use a tactical team to secure it (the house) before detectives went in,” said Furlong. “It was known people involved fled to the house immediately after the shooting.”

Furlong said so far, CCSO has recovered three handguns and parts of other guns related to the shooting.

“We continue to investigate the connection between street-level youth gangs and what occurred,” said Furlong.

The shooting occurred the night of Jan. 24 at the 3300 block of East Carmine Street behind a CVS pharmacy. Detectives estimated 17 shots were fired. Several cars were damaged by an escaping vehicle. A Lyon County juvenile shot in the face was found at the intersection of Sherman Lane and Concord Drive and transported to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno. Furlong said Wednesday that juvenile has been released from the hospital and remains a person of interest in the investigation.

So far, CCSO has four juveniles related to the incident in custody, including a Carson City juvenile who was shot in the legs and arrested Jan. 25 shortly after his release from Renown. On Jan. 28, two 18-year-old male suspects connected to the shooting were arrested in a Mound House residence: Juan Antonio Mena and Miguel Antonio Vargas.

Furlong said Wednesday more arrests are expected in the future. In a previous interview, he said the Jan. 24 shooting was the first significant gang activity in the capital in years. He encouraged parents concerned about their children engaging in such activity to call 775-887-2500. People can leave a message for members of the Special Enforcement Team Gang Unit.

Those with information about the incident can also contact the CCSO Investigations Division at 775-283-7856 or 775-887-COPS.