Two-day old road rage incident leads to confrontation, arrest

A man was arrested on Dec. 15 after a confrontation stemming from what Lyon County Sheriff Brad Pope said was a two-day-old road rage incident.

According to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched at 2:25 p.m. on Dec. 15 for a report of two to three gunshots in the Wendy’s parking lot. The caller reported that the two vehicles were headed eastbound on Main Street, away from the restaurant.

One of the drivers, accompanied by his girlfriend, arrived at the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office substation in Fernley and called 911, stating that he had fired his weapon in self-defense.

Deputies were dispatched to the substation, and additional deputies were sent to Wendy’s.

Deputies determined that on Dec. 13 there was an unreported traffic incident in which Austin Baker’s wife was cut off in traffic and the male driver of the other vehicle yelled at her. She took a photo of the vehicle and provided it to Baker, informing him of the incident.

The Sheriff’s Office said that on Dec. 15 Baker was traveling westbound on Main Street in Fernley with his wife and 2-year-old child in the vehicle when he saw a vehicle he believed was involved in the earlier incident. Baker followed the vehicle to the Wendy’s parking lot, where he pulled in front of it, preventing it from driving away. The LCSO report states that Baker exited his vehicle and began aggressively yelling at the other driver, making threats and becoming increasingly hostile.

The Sheriff’s Office said the other driver retrieved a handgun and placed it in his lap. Baker then began repeatedly striking the man in the face and head. The man attempted to protect himself, and his female passenger tried to shield him from the passenger seat. While Baker continued the assault, the other driver grabbed the handgun and fired two rounds through the vehicle’s door toward Baker. One round became lodged in the door and the other missed Baker, striking a dirt mound behind him.

Baker then stopped the assault, and the other driver was able to drive away. He drove to the Sheriff’s Office substation, where he called 911 to report the incident and seek help. Baker followed him eastbound on Main Street before turning off toward In-Town Park. He did not contact the Sheriff’s Office but was later located by deputies and taken into custody.

Baker was arrested on charges of aggravated stalking, motor vehicle burglary, child endangerment and battery.

Pope told the Lyon County Commission during his report at the Dec. 18 meeting that the driver who fired the gun in self-defense was not charged.

Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office at (775) 463-6600 and ask to speak with Deputy Colosi, referencing Case No. 25LY04925.