On a tragic Labor Day, September 7, 2020, the historic town of Virginia City, Nevada, was rocked by a violent incident that claimed the lives of two local business owners. TJ Lord, a 39-year-old White / Caucasian male, and his father, Gary Lord, aged 71, were fatally shot at their family-owned business, Virginia City Gun Works. The shooting occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m., prompting a response from the Storey County Sheriff's Office.
Upon their arrival, deputies discovered the bodies of both father and son inside the gun store.
The investigation quickly identified a person of interest, 56-year-old Joep Mols of Silver Springs. Authorities revealed that Mols had been engaged in an ongoing and long-running legal dispute with the Lord family, which is believed to be the motive for the attack. The nature of the dispute was reported to be over money. Investigators determined that Mols acted alone in the meticulously planned and targeted assault on the father and son.
Later that same evening, at around 8:00 p.m., the search for the suspect came to a somber conclusion. Joep Mols was found deceased in a location in southern Reno. His death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. With the perpetrator deceased, authorities concluded their investigation, classifying the tragic event as a double-murder and suicide. The case was headed by the Nevada Division of Investigation, with assistance from state and federal agencies. As Mols was the sole perpetrator, no arrests were made in connection with the deaths of TJ and Gary Lord.
