A 17-year-old Gardnerville resident was shot in the arm late Saturday outside the Douglas County Fairgrounds after he said he was confronted by a dozen Carson City gang members.
The shooting reportedly took place during a quinceneara, or 15th birthday party celebration.
Douglas County deputies found out about the shooting when they were called to Carson Valley Medical Center at 2:10 a.m. Sunday.
The victim reportedly told deputies the suspects, whom he described as gang members, tried to pick a fight with him. He said he and another acquaintance drove off and one of the suspects opened fire on the automobile, striking him in the arm.
Rather than seek medical attention, the victim tried to remove a bullet from his arm with a pocket knife. According to the sheriff's office, the teen thought he had been hit twice, but the second wound was an exit wound and there was no bullet.
Following the unsuccessful procedure, he went to the medical center where personnel called the sheriff's office.
Deputies located the victim's vehicle and found four bullet holes in the driver's side front and rear doors.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Douglas County Sheriff's Office at 782-9911 or call Secret Witness, 782-7463.
