Law enforcement putting together pieces of life of STHS grad who turned killer

By Reno Gazette-Journal

As Nevada’s capital city tries to come to grips with a deadly shooting attack, investigators Thursday turned their attention to the gunman described as quiet and friendly but who had a troubled past with mental health issues that required medication.

“We are concentrating on the details of his life, which will include his medical records,” Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong told The Associated Press.

Eduardo Sencion

Eduardo Sencion

Eduardo Sencion, 32, took his own life Tuesday after gunning down 11 people inside an IHOP restaurant, killing four including three uniformed Nevada National Guard members.

“Right now we are building a profile around him. Who is he?” Furlong said.

“Yes, he was on medications. He’s been on medication for a long period of his life. And he was considered to be doing fine.”

“We know that he did not dislike the military and at some point had considered joining,” Furlong said.

Furlong didn’t know if Sencion ever tried to enlist but said his mental health history likely would have precluded his acceptance into the military of his adopted country.

Joe Laub, an attorney who has helped the family with legal concerns in the past, said the Sencions were devastated over the rampage.

“It’s almost as if he was a normal person who had a major psychological defect that was triggered by something,” Laub said.

Sencion, the youngest of four brothers, was born in Mexico but was a legal U.S. resident and had a passport, authorities said.

He had at least one previous encounter with the law. He was taken into protective custody by South Lake Tahoe police during a mental health commitment in April 2000. He fought with officers during the incident but was not charged.

Records show Sencion attended South Tahoe High School, graduating in 1997.

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