By Kathryn Reed

A parolee is in custody without bail and another South Lake Tahoe man is being treated for serious injuries at Renown Medical Center in Reno after he was beaten Thursday afternoon.

The chaos on Reno Avenue in the Sierra Tract spilled over to Tahoe Valley Elementary School, which resulted in the school being locked down for about 20 minutes at 3:15pm as students were being let out for the day.

Adrian Gannion, 32, of South Lake Tahoe was being held without bail at the local jail on parole violations. Further charges are likely after police wrap up their investigation.

“Gannion is alleged to have picked up a tree branch about 3- to 4-inches in diameter and 5-feet long and smacked the guy in the head with it,” Sgt. Brian Williams with the South Lake Tahoe Police Department told Lake Tahoe News.

Blood was everywhere.

Mark Ross, who is in his mid-40s and from South Lake Tahoe, was airlifted to Reno. The helicopter landed in the snow dump area at the end of Sierra Boulevard. However, Ross had made it to the 7-Eleven at Highway 50 before officers located him.

Ross is expected to live, but the injuries are described as significant.

Witnesses told officers Gannion was fighting three men at the home of his girlfriend on Reno Avenue. Ronald Kato, in his mid-20s and from South Lake, was  taken to Barton Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.

The name of the other man involved in the fight was not disclosed.

Officers said there is no indication this was gang related. They are not sure what led to the fight, but drugs and a love triangle will be roads they’ll pursue.

Gannion has a long criminal history, with some of it being violent.

“The suspect is a known white supremacist and is in custody,” Capt. Martin Hewlett, wrote in an email to City Manager Dave Jinkens.

The school became a component of the fight when Gannion’s girlfriend went to pick her daughter up at the school and Gannion was in the front seat with a bloody nose. Witnesses had a description of the vehicle and the two occupants.

Someone at the school called police after recognizing the vehicle. That’s when officers called for a lockdown. The two were taken into custody; with the woman subsequently let go. Her child left campus with other relatives.