Description broadcast of man sought in connection with Reno judge shooting

Douglas County authorities have been alerted to look for a Reno man who was being sought in connection with the slaying of his estranged wife and shooting of a judge.

The description of Darren Mack and his sliver Ford Explorer were broadcast in the County on Monday night.

According to The Associated Press, authorities were withholding the name of the victim in the slaying. But the apartment was home to Mack's estranged wife, Charla Mack, 39, according to a background check by the Internet search engine Intelius.

Reno police spokesman Steve Frady said police would not comment further until a news conference scheduled at police headquarters at 9 a.m. today.

Mack "had recent dealings with the judge and the family court section" in his divorce, Johns said, calling it "an obvious connection." But he said police "do not have enough information to say he is a suspect" in Weller's shooting.

According to Washoe County District Court records, Charla Mack filed for divorce on Feb. 7, 2005. A two-day custody hearing was scheduled before Weller for Sept. 7 of this year and a mutual restraining order was signed in May 2005, according to court records.

An attorney who has been involved in Mack's divorce case, who asked not to be named because of personal safety concerns, told AP that the couple's divorce proceeding was "a very very heated and emotional case."

A Reno television anchor reported that Mack and a friend brought documents to the Reno news station several weeks ago in an attempt to substantiate their claims that Weller was not impartial in his rulings and was influenced by campaign contributions.

The friend " whom the station did not name " told KRNV-TV on Monday that Mack had telephoned the friend about two hours before the judge was shot about 11 a.m. and that Mack had been distraught over Weller's rulings in his divorce case, anchor Shelby Sheehan said on a newscast Monday night.

Weller was shot in the chest "at least once" by a "high velocity projectile, possibly a rifle," Johns said. He was conscious "and talking with his family," Frady said Monday afternoon.

Weller's administrative assistant, Annie Allison, was hit by bullet fragments in her arm and hip, but her wounds were superficial, and she was treated and released, Frady said.

Mack worked at a Reno jewelry store and pawn shop within a few blocks from the courthouse.