Victim Rendered Quadriplegic Following Shooting

Guilty Verdict Secured in Attempted Murder Case

Two men have been found guilty following a jury trial of all charged counts, including Attempted Murder with the Use of a Deadly Weapon, Assault with the Use of a Deadly Weapon, Battery with a Deadly Weapon Causing Substantial Bodily Harm, and Mayhem in connection to a 2021 shooting that rendered a woman a quadriplegic.

In January of 2021, Reno Police responded to an apartment on Wedekind Road on a report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found a 34-year-old woman suffering from three gunshot wounds, one in her leg and two in her upper shoulder and neck.

During the investigation, it was discovered that Juan Lopez-Leyva (dob 10/14/91) and Juan Sanchez-Ramirez (dob 12/18/88) had come to the victim’s home, following a fight at the victim’s apartment the night before. During that fight, a wallet and phone were left behind by an associate of Sanchez.  According to the woman, the two defendants were banging on her door the next day, saying that if she didn’t let them in to retrieve the phone and wallet, they were going to “shoot her up.” After agreeing to allow them inside if they didn’t harm her, both Leyva and Sanchez grabbed the victim and held guns to her head. After the victim told the two men that someone else had the items, both defendants began chasing the woman through the apartment, with Leyva opening fire and striking the victim.

The victim was subsequently rushed to the hospital, where emergency life-saving measures were successful. However, since this incident she has experienced significant and permanent injuries that have required her to live in a 24/7 medical care facility. In addition, due to her paralysis, the woman has had to learn how to live her life with no movement below her collarbone. Furthermore, she has had to deal with the emotional trauma the defendants caused.

During the trial, the victim testified for six hours over two days. Deputy District Attorney Jeremy Reichenberg praised the woman’s strength in not only working through the medical requirements needed for her to speak, but also that she was able to face the men who caused her such a life-altering injury and get a little bit of justice. In speaking with the victim now, she has said that she’s grateful for the chance to testify and to have her voice be heard.

Sentencing is set for both defendants on April 25^th, 2024, with the Honorable Judge Barry Breslow presiding.