On March 29, an altercation with a man that began in Reno ended in a standoff and shootout near Greenbrae Drive and Rock Boulevard in Sparks resulted in three officers shot and the suspect dead.
The incident has left the city rattled and damaged the homes of three residents.
“We really don’t see these kinds of things happening in Sparks, this is a quiet, working-class neighborhood,” says Sparks City Councilmember Dian VanderWell.
“No one will have a normal life again after this, with everything they’ve had to see and deal with,” Sparks City Councilmember Donald Abbott solemnly added.
Three Sparks homes were affected in the shootout; the second home as well as the last one where the suspect was found dead endured the most damage. Bullet holes are riddled in appliances in that second home, and the one where the suspect was shot didn’t suffer as much damage but is deemed unlivable for at least the next five months. The city is collaborating with those residents on getting them medical and mental health treatment.
Therefore, in conjunction with the City of Sparks, the Builders Association Charity (the charitable segment of the Northern Nevada Builders Association) has launched the Sparks of Hope Fund to help those residents get back to their normal lives again.
“We are committed to supporting our community members who have been affected by this incident,” Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson said. “Repairing their homes is a crucial step towards healing and recovery, and we are grateful for the opportunity to come together as a community to offer our help.”
Sparks Police Chief Chris Crawforth added, “We believe in the strength of our community to rally together in times of need. By joining forces with residents and organizations, we can make a positive impact and help the people whose homes were damaged through no fault of their own.”
The Builders Association Charity has already committed $2,500 to the fund.
“The Builders Association Charity is proud to partner with the City of Sparks in meeting the needs and providing support to our community’s residents that were the unintended victims of this critical incident,” said Corry Castaneda, Builders Association Charity President. “It is our mission to support the communities we build.”
“The Charity’s support and the community’s donations will not only help to repair the physical structures damaged in this tragedy but also restore faith and resilience in our Sparks neighborhoods,” City Councilmember Dian VanderWell added.
However, the City is cautioning the community about online scammers related to this fund. “We have already seen scams emerging online,” said Chief Crawforth. “One of the key advantages of contributing to the Sparks of Hope Fund is the assurance that every penny of your donation directly aids these residents.”
To donate to the Sparks of Hope Fund, visit https://donorbox.org/sparks-of-hope. Gifting through this link ensures that 100 percent of the proceeds goes to the victims of the March 29 shootout incident.
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