RENO — A Reno woman says her husband suffered a mental breakdown before he killed their two young sons and turned a gun on himself at their home in northwest Reno over the weekend.
Ashley Deane released a statement Monday after Reno police confirmed the identities of the victims of Saturday’s shootings — her 36-year-old husband, Rob Deane, and sons, Jacob, 7, and Austin, 2.
Police said earlier that all three died from gunshot wounds.
They said the three victims were the only ones in the home when officers arrived at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday and they were not searching for any suspects.
Officer Tim Broadway said Monday that detectives were continuing to investigate the case as a homicide and would have no further comment.
“We are still in in the process of gathering information on the case and trying to establish a timeline and history with the family leading up to the events” of that day, Broadway said in a statement.
Ashley Deane, a professional photographer in the Reno area, said in her statement that her family suffered “an unspeakable and unimaginable tragedy” when Rob Deane “suffered a mental breakdown and took the lives of his sons and then his own.”
“As our family begins the lifelong process of grieving, we ask for privacy and prayers for our family, for Jacob and Austin, and for Rob,” she said. She said a service for the boys is planned Saturday at noon at South Reno Baptist Church.
A group called “Friends of Ashley Deane” has organized a website to show support for her and plans a candlelight vigil next week.
Broadway said the victims were identified after the Washoe County medical examiner’s office completed an autopsy Monday.
He said investigators were continuing to gather information from those who knew Rob Deane, a Reno-area car salesman.
