Suspect in Reno casino triple shooting had no known connection to victims

The suspect alleged to have opened hearth at a Reno, Nevada, on line casino Monday was recognized as a neighborhood man with no recognized connections to his victims, police stated Tuesday.

Sparks police recognized the useless as Southern California residents Andrew Canepa and Justin Aguila, each 33, and northwest Nevada resident Angel Martinez, 66.

Aguila and Canepa had been in Sparks for a bachelor social gathering, police stated in an announcement. They had been each shot from behind at Grand Sierra Resort whereas they had been ready within the valet space for a experience to Reno-Tahoe Worldwide Airport, the police division stated.

Jeff Gorell, a Ventura County, California, supervisor and former deputy mayor of Los Angeles, stated on Fb that Canepa was a co-owner of Aspect Road Café within the Newbury Park group, about 40 miles west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

Gorell described Canepa as the daddy of a younger son and a “sort soul.”

“We’ll miss seeing his heat presence on the restaurant and are deeply saddened by this loss,” he stated.

Martinez was ambushed within the car parking zone as he drove away from the on line casino, Sparks police stated. The gunman was hiding behind a car earlier than he emerged to open hearth, it stated.

Three different individuals had been injured within the capturing, with one handled at a hospital and launched and two remaining beneath medical care Tuesday however anticipated to get well, the police division stated.

The suspect was recognized as Dakota Hawver, 26, from adjoining Reno, with no felony or psychological historical past of word, police stated.

“Investigators haven’t discovered any connections to the Grand Sierra Resort or any of the victims, and his motive is unknown,” police stated.

The assault, reported simply earlier than 7:30 a.m. Monday, unfolded as a gunman on foot and armed with a legally bought 9 mm semiautomatic handgun opened hearth on individuals gathered close to the valet stand, police stated.

The weapon apparently jammed, however solely briefly, Sparks Police Chief Chris Crawforth stated Monday.

Because the gunman left, he shot at a safety guard, who returned hearth, police stated. When officers arrived, he exchanged gunfire with them and was critically injured, police stated.

The suspect remained hospitalized Tuesday, Sparks police stated.

The police division has launched an investigation into the assault and any potential motive.

Grand Sierra Resort, a high-rise resort and on line casino that usually books high touring music and comedy acts, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.