Two dead in apparent argument-shooting

Monday, Aug. 30, 1999 | 8:54 a.m.

Lyon County deputies said Saturday night's shootings came during an outing that involved a lot of drinking.

Nearly 100 officers, including all off-duty Lyon County deputies and people from the Nevada Highway Patrol, the Yerington police department and the Churchill County sheriff's office joined in the four-hour search that ended with the arrest of John Strinchfield Jr., 25, shortly after midnight Sunday.

He wandered into another fishing camp that included off-duty Reno police officer Jack Wiley.

Wiley said Stinchfield was carrying a .22-caliber rifle, but was not pointing it.

"I just kept making eye contact with him and asked him to put down the gun," he said. "Sometimes, you have to get to work even when you're taking time off."

After the manhunt began, Wiley and a companion found Stinchfield crouched behind some brush a few hundred yards away. Wiley pinned the man and called for help.

Lyon County deputies say he is talking with them about the killings.

The victims are identified as Phyllis Jean McKellar, 69, and her 58-year-old boyfriend George Roblas, both of Fernley. Each was shot in the head.