How did the Sparks Middle School Shooter get the gun?

Updated: 11/06/2013 9:08 pm

RENO, Nev. (KRNV & MyNews4.com) - On Monday October 21st a 12 year-old brought a gun to Sparks Middle School, he shot three and then himself. There are still many unanswered questions about the incident. In an interview with the parents of the shooter News 4 tried to answer some of them, including how did the Sparks Middle School Shooter get the Gun?

Jose and Liliana Reyes had just recently moved into a new apartment complex a few weeks before the shootings. They do own a gun and it was that gun their son used when he opened fire, killing a teacher, himself, and wounding two fellow students.

A key question in all of this is how did a 12-year-old Middle School Student get his hands on a weapon? Jose Reyes Senior said “Above the fridge two shelves. That’s where my wife put it... not locked, just in their cases.”

Jose and Liliana say they didn't even know that their son knew where the gun was, but he managed to find it. And that is now part of the ongoing police investigation. Jose and Liliana could face criminal charges for failing to lock up that gun.

But Jose said “I don't even have time to think about that right now.” Sparks Police won't release any details about their ongoing investigation. Jose says he's focused instead on moving forward and being there for his wife and their two young daughters.

They want people to know how sorry they are for what has happened.
“This could happen to anyone. We just want people to know we're a family. We tried to raise our kids the right way.”

21 Comment(s)
Comments: Show | Hide

Here are the most recent story comments.View All

SuperNinja - 11/8/2013 1:09 PM
1 Vote
Parents need to stop teaching their kids that life is fair and that everyone will play nice, because when someone doesn't play nice it rocks their world. You can't reason with a bully or ask them nicely to stop and expect that to work. I was bullied as a kid (who wasn't??)and what stopped it was me finally having enough of getting pushed around and beat up so I turned the table and kicked the snot out of my bully. Guess what--bully problem solved. Stop enabling your kids to be a victim and teach them to stand up for themselves. Stop using bullying as an excuse for everything!

COMANCHE - 11/7/2013 4:21 PM
3 Votes
Anti-Bullying strategies? Consider 2Lt Henry Flipper, the first African-American Graduate of West Point (1877), 2Lt John Alexander, the 2nd African-American Graduate (1887), or COL Charles Young, the 3rd Black graduate of West Point (1889). Those guys might have been bullied. They sucked it up and they pressed on....I guess some folks don't teach that anymore.

COMANCHE - 11/7/2013 3:57 PM
2 Votes
It is impossible to emotionally bully anyone without their consent. “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.” - Proverbs 12:19

Tahoe - 11/7/2013 2:24 PM
1 Vote
"this could happen to anyone" is crap. this could happen to anyone who is too ignorant or foolish to secure the firearm with at least the lock provided with the gun when it was sold. these parents are at least partially responsible for this crime, regardless of their personal loss they should be charged.

nobody - 11/7/2013 11:38 AM
0 Votes
What did the boy do to have his dad do that anyway? I remember when I was in school the principle had the okay to give you the board of education and if your to young to know what that is it is a wooden paddle to which he would use on your butt and belive me it left bruises but I didnt hurt anyone else over it.

sparksparent - 11/6/2013 10:45 PM
3 Votes
Behavior and lack of education is certainly at the top of the issue here. Fact is, bullying has been around since the dawn of kids. Used to be you stand up for yourself win/lose/draw and you may even gain the respect of the bully win/lose/draw. Now there is so much emphasis on "good behavior" that it seems kids are afraid to stand up for themselves when mistreated by peers, that it goes undealt with and then you get an overreaction. I think the kid should have not only known about the gun, but should have been educated at it's function, care, and lethal capabilities. A gun is nothing more than a tool. For those who think the "gun" was at fault, or even the parents, not really. Yes, I think the parents are partially responsible for not having the gun secured, however that said if their son was dead set on commiting this act, he would have procured the gun SECURED OR NOT. So, it's also their son's fault for commiting this act too. What about the video the school showed of 'what not to do when bullied' about a kid who brought a gun to school and shot people? I seriously question the effectiveness of THAT video!! As a society, we like blame to fall squarely on a single parties shoulder, but unfortunately, I don't think that this case is one of those, the blame is shared by many. Unfortunate for sure. Parents, teach your kids to stand up for themselves, if you have a gun in the house, teach them ALL YOU CAN about it. Talk to them, they are still trying to figure out the difference between right and wrong, especially at this age. I live fairly close to an area elementary school and am appalled at the words that come out of 'our' kids mouths these days! Where the hell are they learning this stuff?! How do we keep them from whats on the media, video games, online, movies,tv etc-- PARENTS have the biggest task of trying to mediate whats appropriate for their children and I think most of us parents are FAILING at this very important job. Our future doesn't look bright.:(

retired51 - 11/6/2013 10:20 PM
0 Votes
renojim, you are the most ignorant POS I have seen! I watched two interviews with kids in his class that said they saw him being bullied and picked on!! Pull your head out!! Somebody needs to take your keyboard from you before you hurt yourself!! tonysam, you must be this idiot's twin!! If this kid hadn't been bullied and picked on then he wouldn't have looked for a gun would he!! Stupid moron! You can't face the facts!!!!!!

renojim - 11/6/2013 9:22 PM
2 Votes
According to retired, if you get bullied then you are allowed to murder. Murder=felony, bullying=trip to principals office. You tell me which is worse.

renojim - 11/6/2013 9:20 PM
2 Votes
Fact, parents didn't lock up gun, kept it on top of a refrigerator, great place. Not Fact, no where does it say he was bullied?? Where is the police evidence, his friends were interviewed and said they saw nothing. This is what happens when crazies of any age have access to a firearm.

Maryana - 11/6/2013 7:58 PM
1 Vote
You Ignorant idiot's i swear Tonysam and roseanya obliviously you guys don't have common sense that not just cause gun was used in this scene mean that you can only kill with a gun?!!! Like common it could of been a bat or knife not just a GUN!!!!!! And Roseanya really people like is why the world is a bad place how do you know that if they don't or do have citizenship??? YOU DON'T so don't say anything why wont the deport your been ignorant and raises like come one!!!! ALL of you are o negative you don't see how much that boy suffered you close minded people but one day it might happen to you so i wouldn't be all cold hearted and yea everybody was suffering even the boy but no one wants to see that when none of you guys even know the really story or what he went threw or if his parents are illegal or not so shut it!!!!!!!!!!

What's On

You may also view our Sitemap

Inergize Digital This site is hosted and managed by Inergize Digital.
Mobile advertising for this site is available on Local Ad Buy.