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Reno double homicide similar to Douglas County killings

Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam speaks at a press conference Thursday.
Washoe County Sheriff’s Office

A firearm was used to kill the victims in two separate homicides that occurred in Douglas County, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said Thursday.

Balaam held a press conference to share details of a double homicide that occurred in southwest Reno just days after the Douglas County homicides.

Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley was present at the press conference.

The double homicide in Reno, which occurred on La Guardia Lane, bears a resemblance to two murders in Gardnerville Ranchos, authorities said.

The victims in all three cases were elderly and considered vulnerable.

In discussing the similarities, Balaam said a firearm was used in the Douglas County killings. He then said investigators are waiting on an official cause of death from the medical examiner in the Reno case.

“Due to the similarities between the La Guardia case and the two recent homicides in Douglas County we immediately contacted Douglas Sheriff’s Office detectives and surrounding law enforcement agencies,” Balaam said. “All law enforcement agencies have been working together since (Wednesday) evening to determine what, if any connection, there may be between the two investigations.”

The two homicides in Gardnerville Ranchos were discovered within five days of each other and occurred in homes less than a mile apart.

UPDATE: Douglas County homicides determined not related to El Dorado case


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