The Reno Police Department has made public disturbing footage from a body camera that captured the deadly events at Grand Sierra Resort last month, where a gunman's rampage resulted in three fatalities and an additional three injuries. The video, released yesterday, details how the incident unfolded on the morning of July 28, as officers arrived on the scene and were drawn into a firefight within minutes.
The suspect, 26-year-old Dakota Hawver, is depicted in the footage, which was posted to the department's YouTube page, firing at officers who quickly tried to respond. Despite their efforts to neutralize the threat, Hawver managed to shoot more than 80 rounds before police eventually shot him multiple times. His actions left three people dead and two others wounded, before succumbing to his injuries days later, according to News 3 LV.
In an effort to offer transparency, the Reno Police Chief Kathryn Nance emphasized that releasing the video served as a fundamental step "to provide accurate, timely information to prevent misunderstandings and foster stronger relationships," as originally stated by FOX5 Vegas. Chris Johnson, the department's public information officer, echoed this sentiment, describing the release as an attempt to offer "a clearer understanding of the events" based on current knowledge.
The body camera footage shows the significant damage inflicted during the shootout – shattered car windows and tires shot out – painting a stark visual of the chaos perpetrated by Hawver. There is no evident motive for the carnage, though court documents obtained by News 3 LV reveal that Hawver had recently been legally compelled to pay child support, a ruling that had come just a week prior to the shooting.
Tragically, the violence claimed the lives of Justin Aguila and Andrew Canepa, who were in town for a bachelor party, and local resident Angel Martinez. Two other victims, Matt Sitler and Kevin Weir, are fortunately on track to make a full recovery. Zoe Williams, identified by News 3 LV as Hawver's ex-girlfriend and mother of his child, described Hawver as "really aggressive, narcissistic, very mean and racist," stating firmly, "He was not a good person... I just don’t have him in my life—for a reason." She expressed her sympathies to the victims' families and the daunting task ahead of her, "One day, I’m going to have to explain what happened at the GSR to my daughter."
