Carson City man held in Sparks motel shooting
Sparks police say a Carson City man is the suspect in a bizarre incident where at least 100 rounds from three different weapons were shot from the second floor of Motel 6 early Thursday morning. No one was injured but several vehicles were damaged.
Luis Alberto Machado, 34, was arrested following the incident at the south side of the Victorian Avenue motel, after police fired a single shot that missed but forced him to surrender. He faces charges of obstructing with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon on police officer, trafficking controlled substance and felony property damage.
According to Sparks Police spokesman Brian Miller, several officers arrived within minutes and located Machado firing rounds from a rifle into the parking lot of the motel. The officers made verbal contact with but but he refused to follow verbal commands and continued firing multiple rounds from inside and outside the room.
At least five vehicles in the parking lot were damaged by Machado’s gunfire, said Miller. This continued for approximately 15 minutes. He then allegedly fired a volley of shots while exiting the room and pointed a rifle at officers who were on the second floor landing.
A Sparks Police officer fired one round at Machado who retreated back inside the room. The officer's round lodged in the door frame where the man had been standing. Machado exited within seconds and surrendered. He was not hit or injured by the officer’s gunfire. No citizens or officers were injured during the incident, said Miller.
The I-80 freeway was closed due to the threat posed by Machado firing in that direction.
Investigators determined Machado fired approximately 100 rounds from three different weapons: an AR15 style 223 caliber rifle, a 40 caliber handgun and 45 caliber hand gun. Investigators also found a trafficking amount of controlled substances in the room.