Woman found shot gave police wrong identity

The victim of a shooting at the Carson River on Friday afternoon lied to police about who she was, said Sheriff Ken Furlong on Saturday.

Furlong said the 21-year-old Reno woman admitted Saturday that her real name is Ashley Fortune - the woman that police suspected the alleged shooter Miguel Barajas-Zarate, 31, fled with.

On Friday afternoon, a Carson City man found Fortune about 3:30 p.m. badly beaten and suffering from a gunshot wound along the river about a mile into the hills off Brunswick Canyon Road.

The woman was taken by helicopter to a Reno hospital where she told police her name was Jessica Sanchez.

When confronted at the hospital by Carson City Sheriff's Capt. Ken Sandage, Fortune allegedly admitted her real identity.

According to Sandage, Fortune said Barajas-Zarate, the brother of her ex-boyfriend, called Friday morning and asked her to drive him to the river to dump tires.

After dumping the tires, Barajas-Zarate allegedly said he had to urinate, and Fortune stepped into a nearby cave.

Barajas-Zarate then shot Fortune in the back as she was looking at a bird's nest, said Sandage.

When Fortune ran, Barajas-Zarate followed, said Sandage.

"He tried to shoot her again, but the gun jammed," he said.

Barajas-Zarate then allegedly beat Fortune with a rock, fracturing her skull, and drove off in her vehicle.

Fortune said Barajas-Zarate thought she'd stolen from him, Sandage said.

He said Fortune was afraid to admit who she was because she had a felony warrant for obtaining money under false pretenses.

"She was afraid we were going to stick in her jail while she was still hurt," he said.

Barajas-Zarate is believed to have fled the shooting in a green Isuzu Rodeo with Nevada license plate 390WAF.

He is described as 5-feet-7-inches tall, weighing 165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on Barajas-Zarate's whereabouts is asked to call Carson City Sheriff's dispatch at 887-2007.

Secret Witness also offers rewards for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of anyone involved in a crime. To report an anonymous tip to Secret Witness call 322-4900.

Fortune is expected to recover from her injuries.