Investigation shows suspect in fatal Carson City apartment shooting fired revolver twice
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Mon, 11/07/2016 - 4:01pm
A preliminary investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office into the Nov. 1 fatal shooting of an armed man inside a Carson City apartment complex by a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper shows at least two shots that were fired by the suspect before law enforcement arrived and a dash cam patrol video of the moments leading up to the shooting.
At a press conference Monday at the Department of Emergency Management in Carson City, NHP Chief Dennis S. Osborn confirmed there were at least two shots fired from a 32-caliber revolver by 76-year-old suspect Henry Simpson at the Senator Apartments complex at 505 Roop Street at around 9:30 a.m.
One shot was fired into the floor and another through a window near where the apartment manager was, said Osborn. He noted the gun held five rounds, three of them were spent, two were live. He said the investigation continues as to why the man began firing his weapon and his mental condition at the time. Simpson, a 16-year-resident at the apartment, did not have a criminal history.
The shots came after the man entered the manager’s apartment with a gun, telling the female apartment manager he was looking for his dog. The manager told investigators that she saw the suspect with the revolver and that she attempted to retrieve it and negotiate with the man. The manager said she saw the muzzle flash fire at her, breaking a window and told her maintenance manager to call 911 to report shots had been fired.
“She was a very brave lady,” said Osborn.
The maintenance person called 911, with Carson City Sheriff’s Office deputies and Nevada Highway Patrol troopers arriving at the scene. The video shows several attempts made outside the apartment to get the suspect to drop the weapon and come out of the apartment.
NHP Trooper Chris Johnson, a 17-year Highway Patrol veteran, arrived on scene at approximately 9:33 a.m. with deputies of the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. Additional staff from both agencies were en route. Trooper Johnson retrieved his division issued AR15.
At the time of law enforcements arrival, the exact location of the male shooter within the complex was still unclear. Verbal commands for the shooter to exit the complex were being issued by law enforcement with no response from anyone in the complex.
A male witness advised Trooper Johnson that the shooter was inside one of the adjacent rooms (#99 or #100) which was accessible through #98.
As he approached the entrance to room #99 he observed Simpson holding a revolver in his hand. Multiple verbal commands were given by Trooper Johnson for Simpson to drop the weapon. Simpson failed to follow the verbal commands, based on movements made by Simpson, Trooper Johnson fired three shots striking Simpson in the chest he died at the scene.
The incident happened in around a 6-minute time span, said Osborn. Johnson is on paid administrative leave as protocol for these kinds of investigations. Also protocol will be an internal investigations review by the Department of Public Safety.
Osborn noted that the Carson City Sheriff's Office and NHP have a working agency partnership, including a substation inside the CCSO administrative building.
Per the Memorandum of Understanding between the Carson City Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Public Safety, the Douglas County Sheriff’s is the investigative lead due to their non-involvement in the shooting.
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