FERNLEY, Nev. (KRNV & MyNews4.com) -- Washoe County Sheriff's Office is now investigating the Nevada Highway Patrol officer-involved shooting that happened on Interstate 80 near the Mustang exit.
Washoe County says preliminary investigation revealed two on-duty Nevada Highway Troopers were involved in the shooting after conducting the search of the vehicle that had four occupants. The vehicle had been stopped for a routine traffic violation.
Police say one of the males in the vehicle, who has not yet been identified, fled the scene of the initial traffic stop in a marked Nevada Highway Patrol vehicle.
Washoe County says the incident concluded on I-80 near Fernley, where it appears the subject succumbed to a gunshot wound. Life saving resuscitation efforts were administered but were unsuccessful. No law enforcement personnel were harmed during this incident.
The two Nevada Highway Patrol Troopers involved have been placed on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the on-going investigation.
Local attorney Ken McKenna says the NHP troopers directly caused this tragedy and put citizens on the highway at risk. McKenna says the troopers moved an improper distance away from the suspects who were standing near the patrol cars, and the stolen patrol car was running and unlocked, when standard procedure dictates running patrol cars be locked before walking away from them.
McKenna also says when the suspect drove off in the patrol car, the trooper unloaded his full magazine as the fleeing car, which violates the law.
McKenna also says the shotgun in the car was unlocked by the suspect do to a major flaw in the safety system.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is the lead agency for this investigation. Additional information will be released as the investigation unfolds.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office at (775) 328-3320, Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900,
http://www.secretwitness.com/, or text the tip to 847411 (TIP 411) keyword - SW.
