Suicidal gunman in Reno appeared to be on a mission

Associated Press

RENO, NEV.

Police think a suicidal gunman was on a mission of violence when he calmly entered a third-floor urology office and opened fire with a 12-gauge shotgun, killing one doctor, critically wounding another and shooting a third victim after warning patients and their children in a waiting area to “get out.”

A witness who was among those the shooter passed in the waiting room told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the man believed to be from Northern California could have killed many more people at the Reno medical complex if that was his intent.

Detectives have not been able to establish a motive or any relationship the man may have had with the two doctors and the relative of a patient who were shot Tuesday before the gunman killed himself.

“While we piece this thing together, we are trying to figure out what that relationship is, if there is a relationship at all,” Reno Deputy Police Chief Mac Venzo said.

Police were withholding the name of the killer because they have not been able to reach his next of kin.

But Plumas County Sheriff Greg Hagwood confirmed in neighboring Northern California on Wednesday that Reno police searched the gunman’s home Tuesday night in Lake Almanor, a small community about 130 miles north of Reno. The search was first reported by the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Hagwood said the man was a longtime resident and lived alone.

City of Reno spokeswoman Sharon Spangler said her office could not comment on the developments. She said Wednesday night she did not anticipate any additional information would be released before today.

Police identified the slain doctor as Charles G. Gholdoian, 46, a urologist at Urology Nevada within the Center for Advanced Medicine on the campus of the Renown Regional Medical Center. His colleague, Dr. Christine Lajeunesse, was conscious Wednesday but was in critical condition at Renown, hospital officials said.

Lajeunesse and Shawntae Spears, 20, who was accompanying a family member, each was shot once. Spears’ condition improved Wednesday from critical to serious, the hospital said.