RENO — A gunman who police said was about to be fired surrendered Friday after shooting three co-workers at a Walmart store in Nevada in a possible retaliation attack, authorities said.
The peaceful surrender capped a six-hour standoff during which police negotiators said they spoke by telephone with 45-year-old John Dennis Gillane as he was holed up in an office in the store.
Gillane was taken into custody and will be charged with three counts of attempted murder, Reno police Lt. Mohammad Rafaqat said.
No shots were fired after the three male victims, including a manager, were wounded shortly after 8:30 a.m., police said.
“I’m very happy he is out and the situation didn’t escalate,” Rafaqat said. “We convinced him the best move was to surrender.”
Rafaqat did not know how many shots were fired or whether anything was said at the time of the shootings.
“Today was going to be the day he was going to address his employment situation,” he said.
Police had not established a motive for the shooting but suspect it was related to the termination, Reno Deputy Police Chief Mike Whan said.
“He’s not admitting that right now, but we can assume that,” Whan said.
One victim was treated and released, Rafaqat said. Another was in critical but stable condition, and the third was in serious condition.
