Eduardo Sencion

Background

Eduardo Sencion (also identified as Eduardo Perez-Gonzalez and Eduardo Perez-Gonzalez) was born in Mexico on July 22, 1979. He worked at a family business in South Lake Tahoe. He was not in the military. He had a valid U.S. passport. He did not have a criminal history.

Family members told investigators that Sencion, 32, was mentally troubled. The sheriff indicated Sencion had a history of mental illness.

Sencion filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2009, listing more than $42,000 in outstanding debts for a car, several credit cards and some medical expenses. The case was discharged four months later.

The offence

On September 6, 2011, a gunman identified as Eduardo Sencion opened fire in a branch of the International House of Pancakes restaurant in Carson City, Nevada, United States.

The attack began when Sencion arrived in a minivan, got out, and shot a man on a motorcycle. He then walked inside the restaurant and started shooting at 09:00 PT. He turned the gun on himself.

The gunman tried to commit suicide at the scene by a shot to his head. He later died at a local hospital.

Four people were killed and seven people were wounded. Fatalities included Major Heath Kelly, Nevada National Guard Sgt 1st Class Miranda McElhiney (31), Nevada National Guard Sgt 1st Class Christian Riege (38), and Florence Donovan-Gunderson (67). The dead also included three National Guard members. Seven people were wounded. Authorities said injuries range from severe to extremely life-threatening.

Witnesses described the gunman seeing a man wearing a red shirt and black pants. Law enforcement analyzed the assault rifle to determine whether it was automatic or semi-automatic. Sencion left two more guns in the van—another rifle and a pistol. Authorities investigated how Sencion got the guns.

Lawmakers, business owners and law enforcement officials in Carson City struggled to understand what drove Sencion to turn an AK-47 assault rifle on his hometown. Authorities were investigating whether the military members were targeted. At the time, it remained unclear whether Sencion was targeting people in the military.

Investigation

Authorities released a chronology of events. The FBI said that at the time investigators had not shown any links to terrorism or militant groups and that they did not believe the National Guard soldiers were targeted specifically, while noting that the matter was still under investigation.

FBI special agent Patrick Turner said:

"At this time, the investigation has not shown any links to terrorism or militant groups," FBI special agent Patrick Turner said in a statement. "We do not believe the National Guard soldiers were targeted specifically, however, that is still under investigation."

Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman Chuck Allen said:

"The sheriff may never know the motive," Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman Chuck Allen said.

Authorities said they had yet to find any Internet postings or other writings left by the gunman. FBI special agent Mike West said:

"NO WRITINGS BY GUNMAN FBI special agent Mike West said investigators had yet to find any Internet postings or other writings left by the gunman, who authorities said worked for his family-run grocery business in South Lake Tahoe, California."

Timeline

• September 6, 2011 — Sencion opened fire at an International House of Pancakes restaurant in Carson City, Nevada; the assault included shooting a man on a motorcycle after arriving in a minivan, then shooting inside the restaurant at 09:00 PT; Sencion turned the gun on himself at the scene and later died at a local hospital.
• January 2009 — Sencion filed for bankruptcy protection.
• Four months later — The bankruptcy case was discharged.

Arrest

Sencion died at a local hospital hours after the mass shooting; no arrest was described.

Trial

No trial information was provided.

Sentencing

No sentencing information was provided.

Appeals

No appeals information was provided.

Outcome

Sencion killed four people and wounded seven before dying. The attack killed three Nevada National Guard members and a civilian woman: Major Heath Kelly (35), Sgt 1st Class Christian Riege (38), Sgt 1st Class Miranda McElhiney (31), and Florence Donovan-Gunderson (67). Seven people were wounded.

Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong said:

"This is unquestionably the most devastating attack in Carson City's history," Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong said at a news conference Wednesday. "Yesterday our town was shocked to the core."

Carson City Sheriff Kenneth Furlong said he believed Tuesday’s violence marked the largest single shooting in the history of Carson City.

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval ordered flags flown at half-staff until Friday at dusk in honor of the National Guardsmen who were killed.

Aftermath

Some areas were shut down as a precaution. The state Capitol and Supreme Court buildings were briefly closed and extra security was sent to guard state and military buildings in northern Nevada to prevent further violence.

Brig. Gen. William R. Burks described Major Heath Kelly, Sgt 1st Class Christian Riege, and Sgt 1st Class Miranda McElhiney as dedicated service members who were active in their fields. Regarding Major Heath Kelly, Brig. Gen. William R. Burks said:

• Kelly was a decorated officer and avid student of military history who was known for his dry sense of humor.
• Kelly was married with two kids.
• Kelly served in Iraq from 2004 to 2005, and he was deployed while on active duty with the Army, not as a member of the Nevada National Guard.

Regarding Sgt 1st Class Christian Riege, Brig. Gen. William R. Burks said:

• Riege was a fitness buff and a father of three.
• Riege had been in the Navy.
• His military occupation was armor crewman.
• He served in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010.

Regarding Sgt 1st Class Miranda McElhiney, Brig. Gen. William R. Burks said:

• McElhiney was an administrative sergeant who had been with the Guard for 13 years.
• She served soldiers in the medical, dental and human resources fields.
• McElhiney had a side business making cakes and cupcakes and would always bring goodies when people got a promotion.

Sencion left the violence after shooting inside the restaurant, then the rampage culminated moments later with Sencion shooting himself in the head. Authorities said ten of the victims were shot inside and one wounded person was shot in the parking lot.

IHOP Restaurants President Jean Birch wrote on Facebook after coming to Carson City:

"Our hearts ache for all the victims of this senseless act of violence," IHOP Restaurants President Jean Birch wrote on Facebook after coming to town in the aftermath of the breakfast-time massacre. "The people of Carson City have also shown incredible support for the victims and IHOP's team members."

Fran Hunter, 64, who worked at Sierra Le Bone, a pet shop near the IHOP, told Reuters:

"You read about this happening in big cities, but not in our little town," she told Reuters.

Guy Rocha, retired Nevada state archivist, said:

"It's unprecedented in Carson City history," said Guy Rocha, retired Nevada state archivist. "People who live in Carson City have come from other places to get away from the large urban madness. ... It finally came to Carson City."

Callers on 911 tapes described the ongoing shooting. One caller said:

"In the IHOP! In the IHOP!" one caller said.

Another caller described the shooter’s movement into the parking lot with a gun, saying:

"Now he's coming back out with a gun shooting people in the parking lot!"