On a tragic Labor Day in Virginia City, Nevada, the quiet of the small, historic town was shattered by violence that claimed the life of 71-year-old Gary Lord, a White male and longtime resident. On September 7, 2020, Lord and his 39-year-old son, TJ Lord, were both fatally shot inside their family-owned business, Virginia City Gun Works. The events unfolded in the afternoon, prompting a response from the Storey County Sheriff's Office after deputies were alerted to gunshots at the
establishment.
Upon their arrival at the gun store, law enforcement discovered the bodies of both Gary and his son. The investigation quickly identified a person of interest, 56-year-old Joep Mols of the Reno area. Authorities revealed that Mols had been entangled in a long-running legal and financial dispute with the Lord family. This ongoing conflict is believed to have been the motive for the deadly confrontation.
The search for the suspect concluded later that same evening. Mols was found deceased in a parking lot in Reno, having died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators believe that Mols acted alone in the double homicide and that there was no further threat to the public. With the perpetrator having taken his own life, no arrests were made in connection with the deaths of Gary and TJ Lord. The investigation into the murder-suicide was handled by the Nevada Division of Investigation with assistance from other state and federal agencies.
