On a Thursday morning in Sparks, Nevada, the life of 41-year-old Hispanic male Jorge Moreno-Aguirre came to a tragic end. The events of July 28, 2016, began to unfold around 10:15 a.m. when Moreno-Aguirre was sent home from his job at a local restaurant after he was discovered consuming alcohol while at work. Within the hour, his blood alcohol content would be more than twice the legal limit for driving.
Shortly after leaving his job, at approximately 10:41 a.m., the Sparks Police
Department started receiving a flurry of 911 calls about a reckless driver in a red Jeep Cherokee. Callers reported the vehicle colliding with parked cars and other property. One witness described the Jeep being driven at high speeds, hitting at least two vehicles, and speeding through a residential neighborhood at around 70 miles per hour.
Two Sparks Police Department officers, Shane Minick and Eric DeJesus, responded to the area and located a fluid trail, which they followed to find Moreno-Aguirre's parked Jeep. As the officers approached, Moreno-Aguirre got back into his vehicle and fled, initiating a pursuit through residential streets. The chase came to an end near 1st Street and Richards Way, where Moreno-Aguirre brought his Jeep to an abrupt stop.
As the officers exited their patrol car, Moreno-Aguirre brandished a. 357 caliber Ruger Blackhawk revolver. In response to the perceived threat, both officers fired their weapons, striking Moreno-Aguirre multiple times. Despite attempts to render aid, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene. A subsequent search of Moreno-Aguirre's person revealed a second loaded firearm, a Beretta semi-automatic handgun, in his front pants pocket.
The Reno Police Department led the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. The Washoe County District Attorney's Office later reviewed the case and determined that the officers' actions were justified, concluding that they reasonably believed Moreno-Aguirre posed a serious and imminent threat to their safety and the public. As a result, no arrests were made in connection with the death of Jorge Moreno-Aguirre. The Washoe County Medical Examiner's Office ruled his death a homicide, caused by multiple gunshot wounds.
