RENO, Nev. (AP) — The district attorney has cleared Reno police of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a suspect at a downtown casino after he skipped out on bail in Utah and committed a car-jacking in California.
Washoe County DA Chris Hicks said the officer was justified when he shot and killed 24-year-old Steven Valenzuela of Las Vegas in the Eldorado Resort Casino mezzanine in February 2017.
Hicks said Valenzuela put a gun to his head when initially confronted by police, took off then later advanced toward them with a gun in his hand.
Investigators say he skipped out on bail on robbery and assault charges in Utah in February 2017, traveled to Las Vegas and later drove to Reno in a vehicle he car-jacked in California.
