Body camera footage released from Dec. 20 Gardnerville shooting that injured sergeant
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has released body camera footage, obtained by KRNV News 4, from the Dec. 20 officer involved shooting in Gardnerville in which a DCSO sergeant was shot three times.
The officers involved in the shooting included Sgt. John Lenz, who was injured and is recovering after being shot twice in the chest, and once in the face. Body armor protected the sergeant from the chest shots. The other officers involved were DCSO Deputy Justin Fricke, Deputy Bruce Jacobsen and Deputy Scott Wharton, according to DCSO in a news release.
KRNV News 4 was able to obtain the videos after a request to DCSO. Go here to see the videos and story. KRNV warns the body camera footage contains graphic content.
The suspects shown in the video include shooting suspect Nicholas Berreman and accomplice Kaela Mae Horse-Berreman, according to a Douglas County news release.
Statement, Sheriff Dan Coverley:
“The matter is still currently under investigation and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is confident that a thorough and transparent investigation will be conducted the Carson City Sheriff’s Office and Nevada Division of Investigations.
"Our office will maintain transparency with our community regarding this investigation as appropriate. We ask for the community to rely on the facts, and avoid sharing the kind of misinformation that can run rampant on social media. While difficult, please be patient for those facts to be established.
"Having reviewed the body camera footage, this is a situation where it appears to me our officers’ lives were very much in danger. I am grateful for the successful recovery of Sergeant Lenz and we look forward to bringing him home to the community in which he proudly serves," Sheriff Coverley concludes in the statement.
The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office will be bringing forth charges of attempted murder with the use of a deadly weapon, attempted murder of a first responder, prohibited person in possession of a firearm, battery with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm, and battery upon a protected person causing substantial bodily harm, according to the news release.
For more information on the officer involved shooting click here.