2018 Sparks Officer-Involved-Shooting Report Released by Washoe County DA’s Office

Sparks, NV – The Sparks Police Department has released a critical incident community briefing involving
an Officer-Involved-Shooting that occurred in July of 2018.

On July 17, 2018, Sparks Police Officers responded to call in the 1700 block of London Circle. Officers
met with the 16-year-old reporting party who informed officers he was returning home from work when
a middle-aged Hispanic male punched him in the face and took his skateboard. The reporting party
believed the subject had a handgun.

Officers responded to the residence where the subject was reported to have gone to after the assault.
The subject retreated to a fenced yard as the officers approached him. As one officer continued to
speak with the subject, the other officer attempted contact at the residence by knocking on the door.
While speaking with the subject, one of the officers observed the subject was holding a handgun and
verbalized his observations to the other officer.

Both officers drew their firearms and began giving several verbal commands for the subject to drop the
weapon. The subject then racked the slide of the firearm which raised concern for the officers as
they continued to order the subject to drop the weapon. The subject continued to ignore
commands to drop the gun and began to raise the firearm towards the officers. The officers fired
their service weapons at the subject, striking him.

Additional responding officers provided medical aid to the subject until the Sparks Fire Department and
REMSA arrived on scene and took over care. Officers also contacted a female inside the residence and
verified she was uninjured. After multiple attempts to resuscitate the subject were made, he was
ultimately pronounced deceased at the scene.

Officers involved in this incident were equipped with Body-worn cameras that were activated during this
incident. In 2017, the Nevada Legislature mandated the use of body-worn video cameras by uniformed
officers no later than July 1, 2018. Sparks Police instituted the use of body-worn video cameras by
uniformed officers in June of 2018. This was the first Officer-Involved-Shooting in Washoe County
captured by body-worn video cameras. Body-worn video cameras are worn at chest level and capture a
general perspective within line of sight from that position.

The Regional Officer Involved Shooting Protocol Team, with the Reno Police Department as lead
investigating agency and the Washoe County Sherriff’s Office assisting, has conducted a complete and
thorough investigation of the incident. The findings were turned over to the Washoe County District
Attorney’s Office for review. At the completion of the review, the Washoe County District Attorney’s
Office released video evidence and a report ruling the Officer-Involved-Shooting legally justified under
Nevada law. The Washoe County District Attorney’s report is available here.

“The Sparks Police Department has chosen provide the critical incident community briefing and video for
transparency, to simplify availability, and to help provide the community with a better understanding of
the events that took place on July 17, 2018,” said Sparks Police Chief Pete Krall.

The images and information in the critical incident community briefing may be disturbing, graphic and
difficult to watch. In addition, there may be strong language used by those in the video. Viewer
discretion is advised, especially for young children and sensitive viewers. As required by NRS 289.025,
protected images have been obscured. Link to critical incident community briefing and video.