Douglas County deputy, Susanville Symphony musician shot by California fugitive during traffic stop
The shooting of Sergeant John Lenz, a Douglas County, Nevada deputy sheriff and a cello player with the Susanville Symphony Orchestra, has raised concerns in two states.
According to a statement from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Lenz was shot three times during a traffic stop in Gardnerville, Nevada about 11:15 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20.
John Lenz, a sergeant with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and a cello player with the Susanville Symphony Orchestra, is expected to recover from his injuries after being shot three times during a traffic stop in Gardnerville, Nevada, Sunday, Dec. 20. Two shots to his chest were stopped by body armor, but one shot hit Lenz in the left side of his face in his cheek. Deputies transported Lenz to the Carson Valley Medical Center in Gardnerville, and he was then flown via Care Flight to Renown Medical Center in Reno, Nevada where he was treated for his wounds. File photoAccording to a statement from the DCSO, when Lenz and other deputies attempted to arrest Nicholas Berreman, a known fugitive wanted for a parole violation by the California Department of Corrections, he shot Lenz three times, striking him in the chest and face. Both shots to his chest were stopped by body armor, but one shot hit Lenz in the left side of his face in his cheek.
Deputies transported Lenz to the Carson Valley Medical Center in Gardnerville, and he was then flown via Care Flight to Renown Medical Center in Reno, Nevada where he was treated for his wounds.
“I have been to see Sgt. Lenz and his family, and we are all extremely grateful for the outpour of support from the community. I am confident Sgt. Lenz will recover and want to thank the medical staff at Carson Valley Medical Center and Renown for their excellent treatment of John,” said sheriff Dan Coverley.
According to a statement from the DCSO, Lenz and other deputies observed Berreman, a passenger in a vehicle driven by Kaela Mae Horse-Berreman, near the intersection of on Gilman and Douglas avenues in Gardnerville.
During the arrest, Berreman was shot in his right hand. He was transported by East Fork Fire Protection District to Carson Valley Medical Center and treated for his wounds.
Berremen was booked into the Carson City Sheriff’s Office Jail on charges of battery with deadly weapon on a protected person, battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm, possession of firearm by prohibited person, possession of a firearm by an intoxicated person, discharge of a firearm in public and being a fugitive from justice.
Horse-Berreman was booked into the Carson City Sheriff’s Office for harboring/aiding a felony offender.
Carson City Sheriff’s Office and Nevada Division of Investigation are conducting the officer-involved-shooting investigation per an agreement between DCSO, the CCSO and the Nevada Division of Investigation.
Berreman has a lengthy criminal history including resisting a police officer, battery, obstructing or resisting a police officer, receiving stolen property and assault on a Ppolice officer.
Berreman was convicted of assault with a firearm on a police officer in Alpine County, California. He was sentenced to four years in prison in June of 2019, but released prior to serving his full sentence. Berreman was listed as having violent tendencies on the arrest warrant.