The open season on law enforcement continues.
A sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed early Saturday while responding to a domestic battery report on the east side of Carson City. The suspected shooter also died.
It was the first death of a Carson City police officer in the line of duty by an attacker since 1867.
The officer, identified as Carl Howell of Stagecoach, leaves a wife and four children. The shooter’s name’s wasn’t immediately released.
Hundreds of local residents lit candles and stood quietly at an impromptu vigil for the slain officer at the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on the Capitol grounds.
The family of the slain officer, including his children, sat in front of the memorial during the brief service that included numerous uniform officers from different agencies.
The mood was somber in the hot evening. Tears were shed by some but otherwise it was quiet, except for when the bagpipe player performed.
An officer speaking at the vigil said: “We will never get over the loss of Carl.”
Kevin Howell, the father of the slain officer, said his only comment was to quote his son, who told his father on his last birthday that if he could achieve even one-quarter of what his dad achieved in his lifetime of public service he would be lucky.
“He soared way above that today,” Howell said.
Sheriff Ken Furlong, in a statement, said deputies responded to a report of a domestic battery involving physical injury in the 4100 block of Montez Drive in east Carson City at 2:18 a.m.
“As officers arrived at the scene, they reported physical injury to the female,” Furlong said. “Within minutes, the male suspect came out of the house and opened fire on the officers, killing one. Additional units arrived in the area and secured the residence, evacuating three children (ages 8-13) and one adult. The suspect was located dead at the scene.”