Attempted Murder Case Result

Update on WCDA Trial from May

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has announced that Keon Tremain Taplett, age 25, has been sentenced to a combined 49 years in Prison after having been convicted in a May jury trial on two counts of Attempted Murder with the Use of a Deadly Weapon and two counts of Battery with a Deadly Weapon Causing Substantial Bodily Harm.  Taplett was also found guilty of having Discharged a Firearm into an Occupied Vehicle, of Carrying a Concealed Weapon and of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Based on the sentence received, the defendant should serve  a term of 19½ years in prison before parole eligibility begins.  

Case Details:

Taplett was arrested by the Reno Police Department (RPD) after he was identified as the suspect in a July 16, 2020, shooting in North Reno.  On that date, Taplett shot multiple times into a vehicle occupied by his ex-girlfriend and her female companion.  The investigation determined that Taplett had been speaking to the victims in the parking lot of his apartment before the shooting occurred.  The victims, who had remained in their vehicle while meeting with Taplett, began driving away after an argument began.  This prompted Taplett to pull a gun out of his waistband and shoot at the victim’s vehicle, striking one victim in the elbow and one in the leg.  RPD Detectives ultimately located 16 bullet strikes throughout the vehicle and additional rounds at the scene. Taplett was ultimately arrested and Washoe County Deputy District Attorney (DDA) Carrie Morton filed formal criminal charges against him. 

At sentencing DDA Morton argued that the callous nature of the crime, impact on the victims, and danger to the community justifies a lengthy prison sentence.