RENO, Nev. (AP) — A gunman opened fire Monday outside the largest casino in Reno, Nevada, killing three people and wounding three others before police shot the suspect and arrested him, officials said.
The suspect had no known connection to the victims, and it was unclear if he was a guest or an employee at the Grand Sierra Resort, one of Reno’s most prominent venues that has hosted concerts, sporting events and a campaign rally by President Donald Trump before the 2024 election. Near the California border and just northeast of Lake Tahoe, the town is a popular summer tourist destination.
Police were still trying to determine a motive for the shooting.
Two victims were in critical condition, while one was treated and released from the hospital, said Chris Crawforth, the police chief of the neighboring town of Sparks whose department is leading the investigation.
The shooting occurred around 7:30 a.m. when the gunman walked up to the casino-hotel’s valet parking area, pulled out a handgun and pointed it at a group of people, police said. His gun initially malfunctioned, but he quickly was able to get it to shoot multiple times before fleeing on foot through the parking lot where he encountered an armed casino security guard. Crawforth said the gunman opened fire on the guard, who returned fire as the shooter fled again.
The suspect later shot at someone driving by in the parking lot, striking and killing the driver before officers arrived on the scene within three minutes of the first shots being fired.
“There was incredible, swift action that took place,” Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said, adding that it stopped the suspect from going into the casino-hotel to continue the rampage.
The shooter had multiple firearm magazines, according to Crawforth.
The suspect fired at Reno police officers, hitting a patrol vehicle. Multiple officers returned fire, striking the suspect, Crawforth said. The suspect, whose name was not released, remains in critical condition.
Michael Sisco, 60, said he was in his room and about to head to the valet for his car when he heard popping sounds. He looked out his window and saw people screaming and running from the valet area.
He said he saw a man holding his stomach and staggering before falling motionless next to a car. Sisco moved away from the window as the gunshots continued.
“A half hour after the incident I started shaking because I realized I could’ve been there,” he said. “That’s exactly where I was going.”
Christina Martinez heard the shots just as she was stepping onto an elevator in the lobby, and they were still going off when she stepped out onto the 18th floor.
Someone in a neighboring room told her there was a gunman right outside the main entrance, near where Martinez said she was getting coffee just moments before.
“I feel very blessed, but that’s kind of why I had a panic attack,” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God. I was just there.’”
Hours after the shooting, the entrance inside the casino leading to the valet area was roped off to guests and privacy screens were placed in front of the glass doors to block the view outside.
In addition to those who were killed and the people taken to the hospital, three more were treated for minor injuries at the resort, according to Devon Reese, chair of the Board of Health in northern Nevada. One person was grazed by a bullet on their pinky finger, one was treated for severe anxiety and one was injured while running, he said.
One officer was injured from what was likely “glass fragments,” Reno Police Department Chief Kathryn Nance said.
“Tragedies like this are horrific for any community to endure,” she said.
More than a year ago, two men were charged with fatally shooting another man who was staying at the resort in January 2024.
The Grand Sierra claims to have the biggest casino floor in northern Nevada and sits just a few blocks from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. It’s also one of the tallest buildings in the city, with nearly 2,000 hotel rooms.
“My heart breaks for the victims, their families, and our entire community. Reno is strong — but we are not immune to the epidemic of gun violence gripping this nation,” Reese said in a social media post.
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Yamat reported from Las Vegas, Nevada. Associated Press reporters Beatrice Dupuy in New York; Safiyah Riddle in Montgomery, Alabama; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Hallie Golden in Seattle; and Julie Watson in San Diego contributed.
Andy Barron And Rio Yamat, The Associated Press
