In a chilling and harrowing incident that unfolded on March 29, the Sparks Police Department found themselves in a life-or-death situation when an officer initiated a routine traffic stop. Little did they know it would escalate into a nearly 8 and a half hour long nightmare that left three officers injured and the suspect dead.

At approximately 1:40 p.m., an officer from the Sparks Police Department pulled over a Ford Expedition without license plates in the 1500 block of Greenbrae Drive. The driver was identified as Anthony Wade from Reno. Body camera footage captured the tense moments that followed, as Wade unexpectedly brandished a gun and fired at the officer through the driver’s side window.

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The officer, courageously defending himself, returned fire. However, Wade managed to flee the scene, heading east on Greenbrae before carelessly running a stop sign at the intersection with Rock Blvd. The ensuing collision between the Expedition and a southbound U-Haul truck disabled Wade’s car.

With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Wade abandoned his vehicle and attempted to escape on foot. Meanwhile, witnesses reported seeing an armed individual in the vicinity. A chilling 911 call shed light on the horrifying events that unfolded next.

A black male adult, later identified as Wade, forcefully entered a residence in the 1400 block of Prospect Avenue, wielding a gun. The occupant, a brave woman who was in the kitchen at the time, resorted to self-defense, inflicting a knife wound on Wade. Her actions momentarily forced Wade to retreat before he vanished out of the house’s back exit.

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Swift to respond, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies swiftly established a perimeter, implementing a shelter-in-place order for the safety of the community. The Sparks Police Department, in collaboration with the Reno Police Department and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, initiated a methodical door-to-door search to apprehend the suspect wreaking havoc on the neighborhood.

As the search progressed, it was discovered that Wade had taken another woman hostage in a nearby residence. Around 2:00 p.m., officers managed to establish communication with the hostage, who was attempting to flee the area in a vehicle. Unbeknownst to officers, the hostage had been coerced by Wade, who concealed himself in the rear passenger compartment of the car.

While the officers instructed the hostage driver to return to safety due to the shelter-in-place order, Wade unleashed a hail of bullets from inside the vehicle, striking a Washoe County Sheriff’s Office deputy and a Sparks police officer. In a display of immense bravery, officers returned fire and successfully rescued the victim, dragging her to safety.

Undeterred by the ferocity of law enforcement, Wade fled through the backyard of the hostage residence, evading capture. He then sought refuge in a neighboring house in the 1300 block of Greenbrae. Acknowledging the severe threat Wade posed, the terrified homeowner quickly contacted 911, reporting Wade’s intrusion.

Wade’s desperate attempts to hide behind a shed in the backyard lasted only briefly; he soon broke into the residence. The situation escalated rapidly, compelling crisis negotiators and SWAT teams to join the scene. Over the next grueling five hours, law enforcement tried tirelessly to de-escalate the situation and coax Wade into surrendering peacefully. Tragically, their efforts were met with silence and resistance.

Approximately at 7:30 p.m., SWAT team members decided to breach the house’s garage. A torrent of gunfire erupted as Wade unleashed a hail of bullets, narrowly missing one officer’s firearm. With lives on the line, the officers skillfully returned fire as they retreated from the garage.

With no response forthcoming, officers reentered the garage, where they discovered Wade deceased. Authorities later uncovered that Wade had been armed with a .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun, equipped with an extended magazine.

The courageous officers injured in the line of duty were promptly transported to a local hospital, where they received medical attention for their injuries before being released.

The entire Sparks community mourns the events that unfolded on that fateful day. Their thoughts and prayers go out to the officers injured in the line of duty, their families, and all those affected by this harrowing incident. The Sparks Police Department, along with its partner agencies, has promised a thorough investigation to shed light on the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.

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