Reno Police: Officer, suspect shot during encounter

RENO — A veteran Reno police officer who was seriously wounded during an officer-involved shooting was in stable condition Wednesday but there was no word on the condition of the suspect who was shot.

Reno police initially said the officer suffered a potentially life-threatening injury to his head during the shooting Wednesday morning near an apartment complex.

Deputy Reno Police Chief Tom Robinson told reporters he doesn’t know if the officer was shot or was injured in some other way. He also doesn’t know if the suspect was armed or fired any shots during the altercation that followed a report of trespassing at a McDonald’s restaurant.

Sparks police, who are leading an investigation into the officer-involved shooting, said in a statement later Wednesday the officer was in stable condition at a Reno hospital. The suspect who was shot was still being evaluated and his condition was unknown.

The Reno officer responded to a complaint about a trespasser near the South Meadows Parkway at 8:51 a.m. Wednesday and located the suspect a short distance away, Sparks police said in a statement.

“The suspect was uncooperative and an altercation ensued between the suspect and the officer resulting in injuries to the officer and the officer discharging his firearm striking the suspect,” Sparks police said.

“Additional offices arrived on scene and took the suspect into custody,” the statement said. “Both the officer and the suspect were transported to a local area hospital for treatment.”

No names have been released.

Sparks police officer Damon O’Connell said in an email to The Associated Press he couldn’t release any additional information.