DA rules 2016 deputy-involved shooting justified

The Fernley Reporter

Lyon County District Attorney Stephen B. Rye announced Wednesday it has ruled a shooting by a Lyon County Sheriff’s deputy to be justified.

Rye said the District Attorney’s Office has completed its review of the fatal officer-involved shooting of Tristan Conti, 19, of Reno, Nevada on February 25, 2016.

Rye said on Feb. 25, 2016, Conti and three juveniles carjacked a man in Sparks and took his red Chevrolet. Conti and the juveniles stopped in Silver Springs, where a deputy recognized the description of the reported stolen vehicle.

The deputy made contact with Conti and one of the juveniles outside the Nugget Casino in Silver Springs. The deputy advised them to put their hands up, which the suspects refused to do. Very shortly thereafter, Conti turned and fired a pistol at the deputy with a bullet impacting the deputy’s patrol vehicle and another impacting the deputy’s hand. Fearing for his life and the lives of others, the Deputy returned fire and shot Conti and the juvenile.

After being shot, Conti turned his own gun on himself and shot himself in the head. Conti died from the self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at the scene of the incident. The deputy then applied medical aid to the wounded juvenile, who was transported to the hospital, treated for a gunshot wound, and later released.

Rye says under the facts, circumstances and applicable law, the deputy was justified in employing deadly force.

Nevada Division of Investigations conducted the investigation in this matter. This investigation also involved work by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office crime lab and FIS divisions. One of the reasons for the delay in a final review was waiting for the results of the various tests and a comparison and review of the photos, statements, and evidence recovered during the investigation in this matter.

The officer’s name has been withheld due to officer safety concerns.