State employee shot while helping motorist

Monday, Nov. 6, 2000 | 4:53 a.m.

Alejandro Gonzalez, 23, Reno, apparently shot himself in the head near the Robb Drive interchange on the Interstate with his car coming to rest on a dirt embankment, Washoe County sheriff's deputies said.

He died later at Washoe Medical Center.

The transportation worker, Richard Culver, 49, Reno, was shot once in the leg and once in the abdomen. His condition was upgraded from serious to good Monday afternoon at Washoe Medical Center.

Gonzalez allegedly fired several rounds from a semi-automatic Glock pistol at Culver after Culver stopped to ask if he needed help about 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

Several witnesses said Gonzalez recently had threatened suicide. Police found the weapon and several hundred dollars inside the vehicle, which was registered to him.

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