Three people were killed and three others injured in a shooting outside the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, on Monday morning, July 28, 2025. Police shot the gunman and took him into custody in critical condition after the incident started around 7:25 a.m.
The shooting unfolded in the resort’s valet area when an unidentified man walked up to a group of people and pointed a handgun at them. After the gun initially jammed, the suspect was able to make it operable and fired multiple times, striking five people. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, while another was taken to Renown Regional Medical Center, where they later passed away.
Following the initial attack, the suspect fled north through the parking lot carrying multiple magazines of ammunition. A Grand Sierra Resort security officer confronted the gunman, and they exchanged gunfire. As the suspect continued through the parking lot, he fatally shot a person who was driving through the area, with that victim pronounced dead at the scene.
Reno police officers arrived at the scene within approximately two to three minutes of the initial call. The suspect was found on the northwest side of the property, where he opened fire on an officer’s vehicle. Multiple officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was then taken into custody and transported to Renown Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
Of the six total victims shot, three died and three were injured. Two of the injured victims remained in critical condition at area hospitals as of Monday afternoon, while the third was treated and released. One police officer sustained minor injuries, likely from glass fragments during the confrontation with the suspect.
Three additional people received minor injuries during the incident, according to Devon Reese, chair of the Board of Health in northern Nevada. One person was grazed by a bullet on their finger, another was treated for severe anxiety, and a third was injured while running from the scene. These individuals were treated at the resort and declined hospital transport.
Reno Police Chief Kathryn Nance indicated during a Monday afternoon press conference that the rapid police response prevented additional casualties. Sparks Police Chief Chris Crawforth noted that authorities have no reason to believe there is a connection between the suspect and the victims, and the motive remains unknown and under investigation.
The Sparks Police Department is leading the investigation with assistance from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, following standard protocol for officer-involved shootings. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and gathering witness statements to piece together the sequence of events.
Hotel guests witnessed the shooting unfold from their rooms. Michael Sisco, 60, was preparing to head to the valet area for his car when he heard gunshots and saw people running and screaming. He observed a man holding his stomach and staggering before falling motionless next to a car. Christina Martinez heard the shots as she stepped onto an elevator in the lobby and was told by another guest that there was a gunman outside the main entrance.
The Grand Sierra Resort remained operational following the incident, though the west parking lot was blocked off during the investigation. Resort management confirmed that no Grand Sierra Resort team members were injured in the shooting. The hotel-casino expressed gratitude for the swift response of their armed security team and praised the coordination with the Reno Police Department.
Mayor Hillary Schieve expressed condolences to the victims’ families and praised first responders for their quick action. “Please tell your family, your loved ones, your friends that you love them every day because life can be very unpredictable,” Schieve said during the news conference.
The suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Reno resident, Dakota Hawver.
The victims are Southern California residents Justin Aguila and Andrew Canepa, both 33, and Angel Martinez.
While in town for a bachelor party with friends, Aguila and Canepa were shot from behind as they waited for a ride to the airport. Aguila and Canepa were among a group of 13 people returning home after the bachelor party weekend, according to CNN affiliate KRNV, which interviewed the family of one member who was shot but is expected to survive. KRNV reported that four of those injured in the valet area belonged to the bachelor party group.
Jeff Gorell, a member of the board of supervisors in Ventura County, California, said that Canepa was a co-owner of Side Street Cafe in Newbury Park, California.
Gorell shared in a social media post that Andrew was known for his kindness, his dedication as a business owner, and the love he showed to his young son.
According to a GoFundMe created to support his family, Canepa was a devoted father to his six-year-old son and brought joy to every room he entered.
Police reported that Martinez, a 66-year-old resident of Reno, was shot multiple times while driving through the parking lot of the resort. According to a GoFundMe page set up by his niece, he was one of 11 children. A description on the fundraising page states that Martinez shared a lifelong love of cooking with many of his brothers, spending over 30 years working in restaurants and casinos across Reno. According to the page, his greatest joy in life was being a father and grandfather.
Authorities have not discovered any link between the suspect and the victims.
This incident marks another episode of violence at the resort, as more than a year ago, two men were charged with fatally shooting another man who was staying at the property in January 2024. The shooting occurred during peak tourist season, as Reno attracts visitors due to its proximity to Lake Tahoe and the California border.
The Grand Sierra Resort, formerly known as the MGM and Bally’s, is a 27-story landmark near the Reno-Tahoe International Airport housing nearly 2,000 rooms and claiming to have the biggest casino floor in northern Nevada. As one of the leading venues in Reno, the resort regularly holds concerts, sports competitions, and political gatherings.