Reno Police Shooting of Kristopher Gari Ruled Lawful
The Washoe County District Attorney closed the case on a 2024 officer-involved shooting after a formal review.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Law Enforcement
Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks ruled that the fatal police shooting of Kristopher Gari by Sgt. Patrick McCauley on Nov. 18, 2024, was lawful. The decision follows a lengthy review of the incident that occurred at a Reno gas station.
Why it matters
The ruling concludes the investigation into the death of Gari, who had an active warrant for failure to appear at the time of the shooting. The District Attorney determined the officer acted in fear of serious bodily harm during the encounter.
The Washoe County District Attorney released a 29-page report confirming the shooting occurred at 1:30 a.m. at a local Maverik gas station. Gari was pronounced dead at 1:52 a.m. following the encounter.
The players
Chris Hicks
Chris Hicks serves as the Washoe County District Attorney and oversaw the final legal review of the case.
Patrick McCauley
Patrick McCauley is a sergeant who was involved in the fatal shooting of Kristopher Gari.
Kristopher Gari
Kristopher Gari was the individual killed during the police encounter and held an active warrant for failure to appear.
Sparks Police Department
The Sparks Police Department conducted the investigation into the shooting and submitted their findings to the District Attorney.
The details
Sgt. McCauley blocked Gari's vehicle at the gas station and entered the passenger seat to disable it after initial attempts to detain the suspect failed. Gari drove the vehicle for approximately 100 yards with the officer inside before McCauley fired his weapon four times.
Timeline
Nov. 16, 2024: Officers initially attempted to detain Gari.
Nov. 17, 2024: Officers conducted a second attempted stop of Gari.
Nov. 18, 2024: Sgt. McCauley fatally shot Gari during an encounter at a gas station.
Dec. 23, 2025: The Sparks Police Department submitted the investigation report.
Oct. 2, 2026: The District Attorney released the final investigation report.
Legal Context
This investigation follows the standard Washoe County District Attorney officer-involved shooting review protocol for determining the use of lethal force. The process serves as the primary mechanism for judicial oversight when law enforcement officers are involved in fatal encounters.
The formal closure of this case concludes the investigative process for this specific incident within the Reno community. Residents can review the findings in the released 29-page report regarding the event at the West Fourth Street gas station.
The takeaway
This case highlights the intensive investigative process required for officer-involved shootings in Nevada. The final report provides a detailed accounting of the tactical decisions made during the confrontation at the gas station.
Further reading
For more information on how local authorities process use-of-force investigations, visit the Law Enforcement section.
