Police say Suspect Anthony Wade ambushed officers three times before being shot dead in Sparks hostage incident.
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Dramatic body camera footage released by the Sparks Police Department on Friday morning shows the absolute chaos that ensued before a deadly officer-involved shooting in late March.
On March 29th, 2024, at approximately 1:39 p.m., a Sparks police officer conducted a traffic stop on a Ford Expedition in the 1500 block of Greenbrae Drive due to the vehicle lacking license plates. As the officer approached the driver’s side window, the driver brandished a handgun and fired at the officer, hitting them in the shoulder. The suspect then fled the scene, crashing into another vehicle at the intersection of Greenbrae and Rock Boulevard before abandoning the vehicle and fleeing on foot.
Reports indicated that the suspect was seen jumping fences in the 1400 blocks of Greenbrae Drive and Prospect Avenue. Officers from Sparks Police, Reno Police, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office commenced a search of the area on foot.
Subsequent information revealed that the suspect had entered a residence, prompting the occupant to drive them out. At another address, an elderly woman dropped to the floor upon answering the door, prompting the suspect to fire at officers from inside the home, injuring a Washoe County deputy. Other officers safely evacuated the injured deputy and the woman amidst gunfire.
During the exchange, a second Sparks police officer was also hit by gunfire from the suspect but managed to evacuate the area. The suspect then entered another home occupied by another elderly woman, who hid inside while the suspect fired shots toward officers from the backyard.
As negotiations ensued, SWAT and negotiator teams from all three agencies attempted to persuade the suspect to surrender. Despite repeated attempts, the suspect continued to fire at officers. Eventually, around 10 p.m., entry was made into the residence, where the suspect, identified as Anthony Wade, aged 34, was found deceased.
Wade was armed with a .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun equipped with an extended magazine. The two Sparks police officers and one Washoe County deputy injured in the incident were treated and released for their injuries.
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