Two men in custody on robbery charges in connection with an attempted carjacking in Gardnerville have been linked to a Tuesday morning homicide in Dresslerville.
Niquoia Winterhawk Lundy, 40, and Derek M. Melendez, 30, are in custody on charges of strong-arm robbery, conspiracy, battery to commit mayhem or robbery, battery and assault with a deadly weapon among other felonies.
Bond is set at around $250,000, pending an arraignment in East Fork Justice Court.
Deputies and Washoe Tribe Police were searching for suspects in connection with a shooting on the colony that resulted in a death when they received a report of the attempted carjacking.
According to reports, the men pointed what was reported to be a 9 mm pistol at a woman who was fueling her vehicle at around 6:15 a.m.
However, they couldn’t get the car started because they couldn’t figure out the key fob and they left the gas station on foot.
The two men were found in the neighborhood behind the Smith’s and arrested.
“It was later learned that both Melendez and Niquoia were suspects in a homicide, which had occurred earlier that morning on the Dresslerville Colony of Washoe Tribe,” according to the Sheriff’s Office. “DCSO is assisting the Washoe Tribal Police and the FBI with their investigation.”
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Authorities are investigating whether a shooting in Dresslerville was related to an attempted carjacking in Gardnerville on Tuesday morning.
According to personnel on scene of the shooting, the victim suffered a headwound, but was still alive at 5:45 a.m. Tuesday.
A broadcast went out to seek a gray sedan seen leaving the location.
While deputies and Tribal Police were looking for the shooter, someone reported the carjacking around 6:37 a.m. at the Smith’s Grocery Store in Gardnerville.
An armed man tried to take a red vehicle but was foiled by the key fob.
With a good description of two suspects, deputies were able to locate them walking on El Dorado Avenue near Apollo in Gardnerville and they were detained. There were no injuries and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office indicated they’re not looking for anyone else.
The shooting was the second one on tribal land in two weeks. On May 19, a Washoe Tribe officer reportedly shot and killed someone in the Carson Colony.
That shooting and this morning’s will be investigated by the FBI.
