Gunman Shoots 6 at Reno Casino Resort, Killing 3, Police Say

The police shot the gunman after he fired at them during the attack at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, the authorities said. Two of his victims remained in critical condition.

A gunman shot six people near the entrance to a casino in Reno, Nev., on Monday morning, leaving three dead and two others in critical condition, the authorities said.

The gunman, whom officials did not name, was shot by police officers after he opened fire on them and was taken to a hospital in critical condition, the police said at a news conference on Monday afternoon.

The police said that the gunman had no known connection to any of the victims and that the motive for the attack was unclear.

The gunfire erupted around 7:25 a.m. in the valet area of the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, when a man armed with a handgun began shooting, the authorities said. His gun briefly malfunctioned before the attack, according to the police, who said that he also opened fire on a security guard while fleeing. The guard, who was not injured, returned fire at the suspect, who the police said then exchanged gunfire with responding officers.

One officer received minor injuries from broken glass during the attack, officials said.

Five of the six victims were shot in the casino’s valet area by the gunman, who had approached the building from a parking lot, the authorities said. One person died at the scene and another died at a hospital.

The third person killed was driving through the parking lot when the suspect resumed shooting during his getaway attempt, according to the police, who said that their investigation into the attack was continuing.

Renown Regional Emergency Room, a trauma center in Reno, was treating several patients for gunshot wounds, according to a hospital spokeswoman, who said that medical privacy laws prohibited her from releasing details about their conditions.

Hillary Schieve, the mayor of Reno, said at the news conference that the loss of life could have been greater had the gunman gotten inside the casino, but that he was thwarted by law enforcement and security officers.

“There was incredible swift action that took place,” Ms. Schieve said, adding that the attack was “weighing heavily on everyone’s heart.”

The police said on social media that there was no threat to the community.

Phil Cordle, 49, a National Guard member from Elk Grove, Calif., who was staying at the resort, said that he was in a meeting on Monday morning when someone told him that there was an active shooter.

“I just decided just go into the nearest place, try to get locked, wherever,” Mr. Cordle said in an interview. “The bathroom stall.”

Suzanne Jones, 67, a retired nurse from Sacramento, said that she and her daughter, who is also a nurse, were in their rooms at the resort when an announcement was made over a speaker for people to shelter in place.

“They said to all guests, something to the effect of, ‘You are safe,’ ” Ms. Jones said. “ ‘Just stay indoors. Stay indoors.’ ”

The Grand Sierra Resort, known locally as the GSR, stands as a monolith, separated from most of its resort and casino competitors by Interstate 580/U.S. 395 in Reno.

The building first opened its doors in 1978 as the MGM Grand — a sister hotel-casino to the MGM in Las Vegas, some 440 miles to the south. It would have more names to come: Bally’s (1986 to 1992), Reno Hilton (1992 to 2006), and, finally, Grand Sierra Resort in 2006.

In late 2023, the GSR announced a decade-long, $1 billion expansion project in what’s been noted as the largest private capital investment in Reno’s history. The expansion includes a 10,000-seat arena, to be used by the University of Nevada, Reno, men’s basketball team.

The resort is about four miles from the downtown and Virginia Street, a nightlife hub known for its illuminated arch that says “The Biggest Little City in the World.”

Adeel Hassan contributed reporting.

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