In a parking lot in south Reno, the life of 17-year-old Hispanic male Jonathan Lopez Lopez was cut short on the evening of January 12, 2020. A resident of the neighboring city of Sparks, he was the victim of a double shooting that left another individual seriously injured. The incident unfolded in the 3600 block of South Virginia Street, a typically busy area of the city.
The Reno Police Department swiftly launched an investigation into the tragic event.
Their efforts led to the arrest of 18-year-old Will Mendoza-Paniagua later that same day. The arrest was made on charges of open murder and attempted murder, both with the use of a deadly weapon, indicating the violent nature of the altercation that led to Lopez Lopez's death.
Following his arrest, Mendoza-Paniagua was booked into the Washoe County Jail. In the days that followed, Reno police made a public appeal for any witnesses to come forward with information that could shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the shooting. A substantial bail of $750,000 was set for Mendoza-Paniagua as he awaited legal proceedings in Reno Justice Court. The second victim, who was hospitalized with a gunshot wound, remained unnamed in initial reports.
