Reno Man Arrested Following W. 5th Street Shooting
Authorities apprehended a suspect after surveillance footage captured a shooting incident in a Reno neighborhood.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Law Enforcement
Reno police have arrested 41-year-old Ryan West following a shooting near the 900 block of W. 5th Street. While officers successfully detained the suspect, the victim of the shooting has not yet been located.
Why it matters
The recovery of an unserialized firearm highlights ongoing law enforcement concerns regarding the prevalence of untraceable weapons. Police continue to prioritize the search for the victim to determine the extent of injuries sustained during the encounter.
Ryan West faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of an unserialized firearm. He is currently being held at the Washoe County Jail pending further legal proceedings.
The players
Ryan West
The 41-year-old suspect is currently in custody at the Washoe County Jail following his arrest for assault.
Reno Police Department
The local agency led the investigation and utilized drone technology to apprehend the suspect involved in the shooting.
The details
Surveillance footage captured the suspect firing a single shot at another man before fleeing the scene. Officers utilized a drone to locate the suspect near the I80 interstate behind a preschool, where they recovered the 9mm handgun and a shell casing.
Timeline
The shooting incident occurred at 10:00 a.m. on September 25, 2026.
Legal Context
This incident follows a broader trend of police encountering unserialized firearms during urban crime investigations. Such cases are often examined alongside the federal framework on ghost gun regulation, which attempts to restrict the proliferation of weapons lacking serial numbers.
Residents in the vicinity of W. 5th Street should remain aware that police are actively searching for the victim of this incident. The apprehension of the suspect near a local preschool may lead to increased patrol presence in the surrounding neighborhood.
The takeaway
The use of drone technology by local law enforcement proved decisive in quickly locating the suspect after the incident occurred. Residents are encouraged to report any information regarding the whereabouts of the victim to local authorities.
Further reading
For more information on local safety efforts, visit the Law Enforcement section.
