Arteair Porter, 22

Reno, Nevada
March 10, 2016

Agencies: Sparks Police Department Nevada

Cause of death: Shooting


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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

A man shot and killed in an officer-involved shooting near the Lemmon Drive underpass along 395 in Reno Thursday night has been identified.

Sparks police, who are leading the continuing investigation, say shortly after 8PM March 10, 2016, 22-year-old Arteair Porter called 911 claiming that his child died, he was armed with a gun and he wanted to shoot someone. Police say they were able to track Porter by his cell phone in the area of the Amazon warehouse at 8000 North Virginia Street, and Reno Police officers and Washoe County Sheriff’s deputies responded to search for the man. A RAVEN helicopter was also used in the search, and one Sparks Police officer responded as backup.

Police say about 45 minutes later, Porter told dispatchers he was armed with a shotgun and was going to shoot the next car he saw. He then approached officers and deputies at Lemmon Drive and North Virginia Street in the presence of a SWAT vehicle and numerous marked patrol cars. The officers and deputies began talking to Porter, who had a long gun with him, trying to calm him down. Police later determined the weapon was an air gun.

Gallop said it was too early in the investigation to discuss whether officers used excessive force when all seven fired at Porter. 

"Whether it's one, two, three, 20, 30, 10, seven, it's just too early to know those details right now because we have to look at the entire investigation and what the officers were faced with," Gallop said.