Murder Prosecution Results in Life Sentence

WCDA releases outcome of 2009 shooting case

Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks has announced a sentencing result in a recent murder prosecution.  Miguel Antonio Padron, 30, was convicted of First Degree Murder with a Deadly Weapon after pleading guilty to the charge in September.  Padron was also convicted of Attempted Murder and was sentenced Friday in Washoe County District Court by Judge Jerome Polaha to a term of life in prison with parole eligibility after 32 years has been served.

In July, 2009, the Reno Police Department (RPD) responded to a report of a shooting at a local convenience store.  When officers arrived they located two victims with gunshots to their chest.  The female victim stopped breathing shortly after their arrival and officers immediately began CPR. The second victim, who was the female victim’s son, was able to provide a description of the shooter, later identified as Padron.  Both victims were transported by REMSA to Renown, where the female victim succumbed to her injury.  RPD Robbery Homicide Unit detectives began an investigation and determined that the victims had stopped at the convenience store with several members of their family on their way to an outing.  While there, the male victim was confronted by Padron, an alleged rival gang member.  Witnesses told detectives the male victim attempted to diffuse the situation by telling Padron he was with his family and did not want any trouble.  At one point during the confrontation between the two men, the victim’s mother attempted to intervene.  Padron responded by pulling out a gun and firing several shots, striking the two victims in the chest.  Padron then fled the scene with several associates. Detectives interviewed numerous witnesses related to the victims and Padron in an attempt to locate him.  They ultimately developed information that Padron had fled to Mexico.  In 2016, detectives received word that Padron had been arrested and was in-custody in San Diego, California.  He was extradited to Washoe County in March, 2016 and charged with murder and attempted murder.