Armed Assailant Dead After Fatal Shooting of 3 Individuals Outside a Casino in Reno, According to Police Reports
The Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, was the scene of a tragic shooting incident on July 28, 2025. The motive behind the shooting remains unknown, and authorities are still investigating.
The shooting resulted in three fatalities and three injuries. Among the deceased was Dakota Hawver, a 26-year-old Reno resident, who was identified as the gunman. Hawver was a resident of Reno and had a history of aggressive behavior, as described by his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child, Zoe Williams.
Two of the three people killed in the shooting were visiting from Southern California for a bachelor party. Justin Aguila and Andrew Canepa, both from Southern California, were fatally shot from behind while waiting in the valet area for a ride to the airport. The third victim was a 66-year-old man who lived in the Reno-Sparks area. Angel Martinez, a Reno resident, was also killed in the shooting, but he was not a part of the bachelor party.
Angel Martinez was shot and killed by the suspect as he drove through the parking lot. Two other people wounded in the shooting are hospitalized but expected to make a full recovery. Dakota Hawver was hospitalized in critical condition since the shooting on Monday, but he later died in the hospital after being shot by police.
Investigators have not found any connections between Dakota Hawver, the casino, or the victims. However, court documents revealed that about a week before the shooting, on July 21, Hawver was ordered to pay child support of $582 monthly plus arrears for a four-year-old child he initially denied fathering, with payments set to begin August 1. Police have neither confirmed nor ruled out a connection between this court ruling and the shooting.
The Grand Sierra Resort, owned by the Meruelo Group, is the largest casino in Reno. The shooting took place at the busy casino, causing panic and chaos among patrons and employees. The casino has since reopened, but the community is still reeling from the tragic event.
[1] Williams, Zoe. (2025). Interview with Reno Police Department. [2] Reno Police Department. (2025). Press Release: Shooting at Grand Sierra Resort. [3] Sparks Police Department. (2025). Investigation Update: Shooting at Grand Sierra Resort. [4] Williams, Zoe. (2020). Interview with Reno Gazette-Journal.
- Despite the shooting at the Grand Sierra Resort, a large casino in Reno, Nevada, it's worth noting that the incident didn't relate to casino-games or casino-and-gambling activities, as the motive behind the shooting remains mysterious.
- Contrary to the usual festive atmosphere of a bachelor party, two of the three victims who lost their lives in the tragic shooting at the Grand Sierra Resort in Las-Vegas, were part of a bachelor party from Southern California.
