In a recent development, a Reno police officer who discharged his firearm, injuring a suspect in a 2020 traffic incident, will not face criminal charges.
The shooting was deemed inadvertent, triggered by a taser probe from a fellow officer that struck him, according to a report from the prosecutor's office.
The incident unfolded on July 26, 2020, when Reno Police Officer Richard Jager shot Christopher Sheahan during a traffic altercation. A taser probe, fired by Washoe County Sheriffs Office Deputy George Cholico, missed its intended target, Sheahan, and instead embedded in Officer Jager's knee. This unexpected event caused Jager to flinch, inadvertently discharging a single shot from his firearm, as revealed in a May 24 report by Washoe County District Attorney Christopher Hicks.
The Sparks Police Department, which spearheaded the multi-organ investigation, submitted its report and supporting evidence to District Attorney Hicks, recommending no criminal charges be filed against Officer Jager.
The report detailed the events leading up to the shooting. Sheahan had reportedly accelerated towards another motorist, Shannon Segerer, at an intersection, narrowly avoiding a collision. He then halted his vehicle, blocking traffic, and gestured again to Segerer. Deputy Cholico, who was in traffic at the time, followed Sheahan and instructed him to remain in his car.
"Sheahan told Deputy Cholico that he had some mental issues and continued to disobey the officers commands to stay in the car," the report stated. Despite repeated orders from Deputy Cholico to remain on the ground, Sheahan only briefly complied before resuming his pacing, at times moving towards the officer.
Sheahan's erratic behavior persisted even after backup arrived, prompting Deputy Cholico to deploy his taser. However, one of the probes inadvertently struck Officer Jager, leading to the accidental shooting. Sheahan, hit on his right shoulder, was subsequently arrested.
Sheahan survived the shooting and later faced court proceedings. Despite a plea of insanity put forth by his attorneys, Sheahan was found guilty of Resisting a Public Officer, but acquitted of reckless driving. He received a sentence of one day in the Washoe County Detention Facility.
Officer Jager, injured by the taser probe, received treatment at a local hospital, where the probe was reportedly removed with some difficulty.
While in the hospital, Sheahan confessed to investigators that he had deliberately ignored Deputy Cholico's commands. He explained that his intention was to demonstrate his lack of weaponry by emptying his pockets.
"I should have just listened to the officers orders and not gotten out of my car and freaked out like I did," Sheahan reportedly admitted. Expressing remorse, he apologized, stating, "I didnt mean to be insubordinate." In a surprising turn of events, Sheahan also expressed gratitude to the officers, crediting them with saving his life.
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