Sparks cancels Street Vibrations because of shootings
By Reno Gazette-Journal
4:42pm update: Street Vibrations events in Sparks tonight are canceled in the wake of Friday’s night’s shooting in John Ascuaga’s Nugget and a retaliatory shooting this morning nearby, Sparks Mayor Geno Martini said.
“We’re canceling it in Sparks,” Martini said. “After the retaliation it’s just too tense of a situation. It’s hard to say what’s going to happen. It’s just not worth the chance.”
Street vendors and live entertainment had been scheduled in Victorian Square tonight.
After the late-night shooting that killed one and wounded two, another shooting occurred about 10:30 a.m. at Victorian and Stanford that left one wounded. Martini could cite no details but called the shooting “definitely a retaliation.”
4:30pm update: The following is an excerpt from a Sparks news release:
In light of a shooting involving rival members of motorcycle clubs at a Spark Casino Friday night, and a subsequent drive-by shooting on Victorian Avenue in Sparks this morning, a state-of-emergency has been declared by the City. It is expected the Governor will also declare a state-of-emergency on behalf of the City of Sparks. Pursuant to the police powers vested in the City of Sparks, the Street Vibrations motorcycle event in Sparks will be canceled for the remainder of the weekend.
“The safety and security of the public is our number one priority,” said Sparks Mayor Geno Martini.