Three more suspects are behind bars after an apparent gang-related shooting left multiple teens hurt in Carson City last week.
Juan Mena and Miguel Vargas both 18 years old were arrested after a search warrant was executed at a home in Moundhouse. Police said both men were arrested for weapons-related charges stemming from their involvement in the incident.
The Carson City Sheriff's Office responded to a shooting at around 7 p.m. on January 24 in the area of the 3300 block of East Carmine Street. Minutes later, they received a report of 16-year-old teem from Lyon County suffering from a gunshot wound to the face in the area of Sherman Lane and Concord Drive. The teen was rushed to Renown via air ambulance in critical condition.
Authorities found a second teen with gunshot wounds to both legs off 3000 block of Carmine Street. The teen was treated at Renown and released shortly thereafter. The teen from Carson City was arrested and booked into jail after being released from the hospital on multiple charges including shooting a gun into an occupied car and battery with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm.
At the scene of the shooting incident at the 3300 block of East Carmine Street, detectives were able to identify two additional suspects that had ran from the area prior to police arriving. The suspects were identified as a 17-year-old Carson City girl and a 15-year-old Carson City boy.
Detectives were also able to determine approximately 17 shots had been fired from handguns and several vehicles were damaged by an escaping vehicle that was recovered at Sherman Lane and Concord Drive. They recovered multiple baggies containing marijuana and mushrooms inside the vehicle that had fled the area. The two outstanding suspects were found by police and arrested.
In addition to Mena and Vargas, a 17-year-old was arrested on a felony warrant for his involvement in the shooting. He is not being identified because of his age.
Detectives have determined the shooting was gang-related and all suspects involved were identified within 12 hours of the shooting.
Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said that gang activities remain a top priority for law enforcement and they have zero tolerance. Furlong added that incidents like this have become very rare over the years but this shooting is a reminder that everyone must remain vigilant about youth activities and report suspicious incident as soon as possible.