Dayton shooting suspect captured in Reno


A shooting suspect who was last seen on foot in Gardnerville on Monday night was taken into custody in Reno on Tuesday afternoon. Malik Avila, 17, was being sought in connection with the fatal shooting of a man at the Dayton Smith's store at about 9:10 p.m. Monday. A manhunt for Avila wrapped up 1 p.m. Tuesday after emergency dispatchers reported he was in custody in Reno. Douglas investigators followed up on tips ranging from the apparel department at the Gardnerville Walmart to the neighborhood behind Ironwood in Minden. Lyon County authorities said the shooting happened in the parking lot on Pine Cone Road in Dayton. "Arriving deputies found a male victim with multiple gunshot wounds and rendered immediate first aid," Lyon information officer Michael Carlson said. "Care Flight was called in to transport the victim. However, he was declared deceased before he could be transported." Lyon County Sheriff's personnel said the shooting suspects fled the scene in an older model Jaguar. A Douglas deputy spotted a vehicle matching the description of the getaway car traveling down Douglas Avenue near Mill Street in Gardnerville. Sheriff's spokeswoman Sgt. Bernadette Smith said the deputy turned around and spotted the Jaguar in the parking lot of Trinity Lutheran Church standing outside. When the deputy pulled up, someone identified as Avila fled south. "The person who remained was interviewed by Douglas County Sheriff's investigators and determined not to be involved in the homicide," Smith said. "He was subsequently released. The Jaguar was towed." Smith said deputies searched the area where Avila was last seen for six hours without finding him. Anyone with information about what happened on Monday is asked to call 775-463-6620, or Secret Witness at 775-322-4900, and refer case No. 18LY02021. ••• Douglas County Sheriff's Office deputies are searching for Malik Avila, 17, who is a person of interested in a murder that happened in the Smith's shopping center in Dayton Monday night. At 9:09 p.m., the Lyon County Sheriff's Office received a report of multiple shots fired in the shopping center parking lot on Pine Cone Road. Arriving deputies found a male victim with multiple gunshot wounds. Care Flight medical helicopter was called but the victim was declared dead before he could be transported. Witnesses reported the suspects fled the scene in an older model Jaguar. At 9:30 p.m. the Jaguar was seen traveling on Douglas Avenue near Mill Street in Douglas County. The deputy turned around to follow the Jaguar and found it at a church parking lot on Mill Street. Two persons were seen outside the vehicle, and one suspect fled on foot southbound. The remaining person was questioned and he identified Avila as the person who fled. The person who remained was interviewed by Douglas County Sheriff’s Investigators and determined not to be involved in the homicide. He was subsequently released. The Jaguar was towed. Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies searched the area extensively for six hours with negative results. Malik Avila, age 17 is still outstanding, and may be in Douglas County. He is to be considered armed and dangerous. Call 911 if he is seen. •••• Two men were detained late Monday after a shooting in the Smith's shopping center in Dayton left one man dead. At 9:09 p.m., the Lyon County Sheriff's Office received a report of multiple shots fired in the shopping center parking lot on Pine Cone Road. Arriving deputies found a male victim with multiple gunshot wounds. Care Flight medical helicopter was called but the victim was declared dead before he could be transported. Witnesses reported the suspects fled the scene in an older model Jaguar, which was stopped an hour later by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in Gardnerville. The name of the victim has not been release pending notification of next-of-kin, according to the Lyon County Sheriff's Office Douglas County Sheriff's Office deputies say no one was currently in custody in Douglas County. Anyone witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call the Lyon County Sheriff's Office (Agency Case Number: 18LY02021) at 775-463-6620 or Secret Witness at 775-322-4900. ••• Update: The Jaguar sought in connection with the shooting at Smith's in Dayton was located in Douglas County about 11:30 tonight. The men were detained according to reports. The Jaguar fled the Smith's in Dayton where a man was shot twice in the chest. He was taken to Reno by Care Flight medical helicopter. His condition in unknown. Charges against the occupants of the Jaguar are unknown at this time. ••• Northern Nevada law enforcement are currently seeking a gray Jaguar that was involved in a shooting at the Smith's in Dayton. According to scanner traffic, a man was shot twice in the chest after 9 p.m. tonight at the Smith's in Dayton. The man's condition is unknown at this time. The alleged shooter was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and black pants. Law enforcement are looking for a gray Jaguar occupied by three men. The direction of travel was unknown. The caliber of weapon involved also was unknown. No other information is currently available.

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