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June 4, 2012

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Gunman who shot 3 at Reno Walmart surrenders

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AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Tim Dunn

Police set up a command center outside a Walmart in south Reno after reports of multiple shootings inside the store on Friday, Oct. 29, 2010. A gunman allegedly shot three employees who have been hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

MARTIN GRIFFITH, Associated Press

Published Friday, Oct. 29, 2010 | 11:19 a.m.

Updated Friday, Oct. 29, 2010 | 5:07 p.m.

Beyond the Sun

A gunman who police said was about to be fired surrendered Friday after shooting three co-workers at a Walmart store in Nevada in a possible retaliation attack, authorities said.

The peaceful surrender capped a six-hour standoff during which police negotiators spoke by telephone with 45-year-old John Dennis Gillane as he was holed up in an office in the back of the store.

Gillane was taken into custody and will be charged with three counts of attempted murder, Reno police Lt. Mohammad Rafaqat said.

No shots were fired after the three victims, including a manager, were wounded shortly after 8:30 a.m., police said.

"I'm very happy he is out and the situation didn't escalate," Rafaqat said. "We convinced him the best move was to surrender."

Rafaqat did not know how many shots were fired or whether Gillane said anything at the time of the shootings.

"Today was going to be the day he was going to address his employment situation," he said.

Police had not established a motive for the shooting but suspect it was related to the termination, Reno Deputy Police Chief Mike Whan said.

"He's not admitting that right now, but we can assume that," Whan said.

Rafaqat said investigators had not determined if the manager who was shot was Gillane's supervisor. The shootings apparently took place in rapid succession near a management office, he added.

A SWAT team entered the store more than three hours before the surrender of Gillane, who police believe had a handgun.

One victim was treated and released, Rafaqat said. Another was in critical but stable condition, and the third was in serious condition.

"The prognosis is good for all of them," said Dan Fogleman, a spokesman for Wal-mart Stores Inc. He provided no further details.

Fogleman also declined to comment on Gillane's possible pending termination or his relationship with the victims.

Employees were placed on a bus in the parking lot of a sporting goods store next to the Walmart and interviewed by police detectives.

Walmart managers directed employees not to talk to the media and referred inquiries to the company's media relations department.

Washoe County deputies, Sparks police and the FBI joined Reno police in sweeping the store to be sure there were no hostages.

Jack McDonald, 64, of Reno said he works as a greeter at the store but was not there during the shooting.

"There are some strange people who work here, but I can't think of one who would be a vicious enough person to do something like this," McDonald said. "This has to be a personal thing."

McDonald, a neighbor of the store's general manager, said the shootings shocked him.

"I've never worked for a place I've enjoyed so much," he said. "All the managers treat us fairly and professionally. I can't think of a single person in the store who deserves this."

Discussion: 3 comments so far…

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  1. By ChunkyFlyRight
    Oct. 29, 2010
    12:14 p.m.
    Flag

    Chunky says:

    If the guy has already shot three people, Chunky would appreciate the cops taking this guy out and saving our tax dollars on psychiatric evaluations, trials and incarceration.

    Erik Scott set everything in motion that day at Costco that cost him his life well before that fatal incident. He could have left his guns at home, he could have beat his addiction to his prescription drug habit, he could have not raised a stink with staff, he could have not lied about his special forces status, he could have obeyed the armed police officers commands and then he probably would have walked out alive.

    That's what Chunky thinks!

  2. By mred
    Oct. 29, 2010
    12:53 p.m.
    Flag

    I wonder if the the perpetrator of this tragedy referred to himself in the third person? Like some posters do?

    It is not surprising that Nevada has the third highest crime rate, the highest drop out rate, high suicide rate, the lowest rates of higher educated people, high divorce rate, and the highest ratio of right wing radio talk stations per capita.

    Rather than concern one's self with the victims, the call is for more bloodshed. As if a cop wants to go home to his/her family after shooting someone?

    But the "Chunky's" of this world, and of this State have no capability of putting themselves in someone else's shoes. Whether the cop, the employees, the customers, the wounded or the family of the suspect. A bitter commentary to get one's jollies, a la Rush Limbaugh, is easy to tender. A thoughtful analysis would require thinking humanity, rather than a third person blob of "Chunk."

    Let us hope that more of the "Chunky's" of this world don't resort to "Second Amendment Remedies."

  3. By vegaslee
    Oct. 29, 2010
    2:45 p.m.
    Flag

    mred. Very good post!

    Not often that I feel the need to agree with you but your second paragraph is right on.

    The thing that people need to remember is that is the PEOPLE of this state, not the state as a whole.

    Seems we have to many here that don't believe in personal responsibility and want the world to take care of them. They run to Nevada thinking we are the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and don't plan ahead. They want the government to hand them everything and they piss it away in the casinos. That is NOT the casinos fault, that is the lack of responsibility of the people.

    We have high crime and drop outs because to many parents allow it. They don't want the responsibility of being parents, they feel the need to be the kids "friend".

    Hopefully someday the people of this state will wake up and make it the great state it once was!

    Ole Chunky has pretty much wore out his Chunk thoughts. Maybe someday he will become a real person rather then a third person.

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