Washoe County Sheriff’s Office leads Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation

Update: The Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office has completed a formal identification and next of kin notifications. The deceased person has been identified as Kenneth Jewel Stafford, age 27. The cause of death is still pending from the Medical Examiner’s Office.

The Regional Officer-Involved Shooting Team investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to immediately call the Sheriff’s Office Detectives Division at 328-3320 or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900.

The following is from Thursday, July 11, 2013:

On Thursday, July 11th, 2013 at approximately 1:40 PM, officers from the Sparks Police Department responded to a report of a suicidal subject, armed with a firearm in the 3200 block of Wedekind Road.

Officers from the Reno Police Department also responded to assist with locating the individual after it was reported the subject was walking in the area with a firearm.

The subject was located near the 2100 block of Belcrest Circle, Reno. While officers were attempting to investigate the circumstances and negotiate with the subject, an officer involved-shooting occurred.

One subject was transported to the hospital and later succumbed to his injuries.

In accordance with the policies of the Reno and Sparks Police Departments, the involved officers have been placed on routine administrative leave.

The Regional Officer-Involved Shooting Team, comprised of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Reno Police Department, Sparks Police Department and Washoe County District Attorney’s Office is conducting a joint investigation into the shooting. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is the lead agency conducting the investigation.

Additional details will become available as the investigation continues.

No officers were injured during the incident.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office celebrated 150 years of proud service and community partnership in 2011. Sheriff Michael Haley is the 25th person elected to serve as the Sheriff of Washoe County. His office continues to be the only full service public safety agency operating within northern Nevada and is responsible for operating the consolidated detention facility, regional crime lab, Northern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center, Internet Crimes against Children Task Force, court security, service of civil process, traditional street patrols and Regional Animal Services.
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