Lyon County deputies arrest man for open murder following active shooting on State Route 338
On September 10, 2020, at approximately 2028 hours, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Dispacth Center began receiving multiple 911 calls about an active shooter on the highway in Smith Valley.
This generated a response from numerous LCSO deputies from throughout the county, as well as officers from the Yerington Police Department, troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol, deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, deputies from the Tri-County Gang Unit, and deputies from the Mono County Sheriff’s Office (California).
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the suspect, twenty-nine-year-old Matthew Strain of Sun Valley (Nevada), was involved in a single vehicle accident on State Route 338 just south of Canal Road.
He then left his vehicle and proceeded northbound on foot where he was eventually able to get a truck driver, also traveling north, to stop. At some point the truck driver, thirty-six-year-old Zachary Sanchez, exited his truck and was shot by the suspect. Another truck traveling south on 338 stopped when he encountered the incident in the roadway.
Matthew Strain then battered this driver in an attempt to steal his truck before the driver was able to flee.
When the first LCSO unit arrived on scene he found the suspect attempting to hide. The suspect was subsequently taken into custody without further incident.
Zachary Sanchez succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on scene, the second truck driver was treated for his injuries and released.
It is advised that morning commuters avoid this area as State Route 338 is completely shut down in both directions and will remain so for several more hours as detectives from the LCSO Major Crimes Division, with the assistance of the Washoe County Crime Scene Unit (FIS), continue their investigation.
Currently, Matthew Strain (driver’s license photo attached) is being held at the Lyon County Jail on a no-bail hold, charged with the following:
- Battery with a deadly weapon
- Attempted robbery with a deadly weapon
- Open murder