http://rgj.com/article/20090514/NEWS01/905140350/1004/news01/Accused+U.S.+395+shooter+claims+he+blacked+out+before+incidentAccused U.S. 395 shooter claims he blacked out before incidentThe 24-year-old Reno man accused of the fatal Mother's Day shooting of a Carson City teen along U.S. 395 and the wounding of a good Samaritan who tried to help him,
told deputies he blacked out Sunday after he supposedly fired a gun shot at a gorilla in his motel room, according to court recordsVictor Rodriguez, who also goes by the name Steve Contreras, was charged Tuesday with murder with a deadly weapon in the death of Rene Angulo, 17, and battery with a deadly weapon on Wayne Nash, 51, who tried to help Angulo. Rodriguez listed his occupation as "drug dealer" and an address in the 1300 block of Nanette Circle.
Rodriguez became faint Wednesday when a judge read the charges against him during a video arraignment at Washoe County Jail. He was told to appear at a preliminary hearing later this month and remained in jail in lieu of $175,000 bail. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a hold on Rodriguez, who is suspected of being in the country illegally.
Sheriff's deputies said Rodriguez shed his clothes and discarded cash and other items as he ran and hid from police who were searching for him with K-9 dogs. He was nude when found in a bush after the 12:35 p.m. shootings Sunday on U.S. 395 near Bellevue Road.
Authorities said Rodriguez was a passenger in Angulo's car, shot him and pushed him onto the roadway. Authorities said the motive was unknown.
Nash and his family were driving behind Angulo when they noticed his Honda swerve erratically off the side of the highway. Nash, an assistant girls basketball coach at Carson High School, pulled over to help Angulo.
"(Rodriguez) got back in the car and, with some difficulty, began backing up," according to court documents. "Nash called for him to stop, but he did not.
"Rodriguez drove past Nash with the passenger window rolled down. Rodriguez fired one or two shots at Nash. Nash was struck in the left leg by a bullet fired from Rodriguez."
Nash called 911, and he and his family gave deputies descriptions of the car and of Rodriguez. Deputies and a K-9 team soon found Angulo hiding nude in thorny brush.
In an interview with deputies, Rodriguez said he had been at the Gold Dust West Motel with his girlfriend when he saw a gorilla in the room, according to a probable cause affidavit. He said he shot the gorilla and left. Rodriguez said he thought he was being followed.
"Rodriguez claimed he blacked out and didn't remember anything until he crashed the Honda," the document said. "Rodriguez said he was the passenger at the time of the crash, but also claimed he couldn't remember anyone else being in the car."
