Announcements

Guilty Verdict in Lazy 5 Murder
WCDA Announces Prosecution Outcome

Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks has announced that Giovanni Gonzales-Mariscal, age 20, from Sun Valley, has been convicted of First-Degree Murder with a Deadly Weapon after a two-week jury trial in Washoe County District Court that concluded last week. Gonzales-Mariscal was found responsible for the December 2019 shooting death of 20-year-old Robert DeCoite from Sparks, who died of a gunshot wound to his face. The shooting occurred after a confrontation between Gonzales-Mariscal and DeCoite on the evening of December 2, 2019, at the Lazy 5 Regional Park located in Spanish Springs. Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) detectives were called to investigate the murder and quickly identified Gonzales-Mariscal as a suspect. Evidence in the case determined that Gonzales-Mariscal had fired 13 shots and hit two unoccupied vehicles and a residence during the shooting. Before he was located, Gonzales-Mariscal fled to Mexico. He was located and ultimately extradited back to Washoe County in September 2020 with the assistance of federal agencies, including the United States Marshals Service. Gonzales-Mariscal will be sentenced on October 18, 2021, and faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

During trial, Deputy District Attorneys Nathan MacLellan and Amanda Sage argued the Defendant’s dangerous and deliberate actions warranted a first-degree murder conviction as he showed a shocking disregard for the lives of the victim, the numerous high-school aged witnesses on scene, and the residents of this city who enjoy public parks each day.