South Tahoe man shot; suspect on the loose

A shooting Sunday night in South Lake Tahoe that appears to be gang related has left a teenager with serious injuries, though not life-threatening, and the suspect on the loose.

The 19-year-old victim from South Lake Tahoe was taken to Renown Medical Center in Reno after the 11:30pm incident June 17.

South Tahoe Police Chief Brian Uhler told Lake Tahoe News it’s not known how the two men know each other. He added that other people were in the suspect’s vehicle, but they have not been identified. The shooter is just described as a white male.

South Tahoe officers were at the hospital Monday afternoon interviewing the victim.

The only description on the suspect vehicle is that it was a light colored SUV – but nothing more for police to help track down the shooter.

“The victim was struck with at least one shotgun blast to the back side of his body as he attempted to take cover under a vehicle. Several shotgun pellets struck the victim in the back of his head, among other regions of his body,” South Lake Tahoe police Lt. Brian Williams said in a press release.

The shooting occurred in the 2600 block of Sussex Avenue, an area where the victim often hung out. Williams told Lake Tahoe News officers were not called until about 20 minutes after the shooting even though a house in the area had a window shot out.

Witnesses told officers the suspect got out of his vehicle with a shotgun and approached the victim on foot. The victim ran, but not before being struck by the bird shot.

 — Lake Tahoe News staff report