Wing Fest Update

Three Reno police officers are on paid administrative leave following a fatal shooting at a downtown Reno chicken wing festival.

Photo: Michael Higdon / The Reno Gazette-Journal via AP

Washoe County sheriff’s deputy Jeff McCaskill said that the three local officers were put on leave July 3 after police shot and killed Raul Saavedra-Vargas at the site of the Biggest Little City Wing Fest.

Police said Saavedra-Vargas on Sunday afternoon drove toward the festival area, swerved toward an officer on foot and crashed into a vendor.

Saavedra-Vargas died at the hospital.

No bystanders were hurt from the festival that typically draws 80,000 visitors.

Police said the confrontation began after they tried to stop the silver minivan that Saavedra-Vargas was driving in for a traffic stop.

The county sheriff’s office is investigating the police shooting.

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1:20 p.m.

Authorities have identified the man who was shot and killed by police after a minivan crashed into a downtown Reno chicken wing festival over the holiday weekend.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s office said Tuesday that Raul Saavedra-Vargas died in the July 3 incident that temporarily shut down the Biggest Little City Wing Fest.

Sheriff’s deputy Jeff McCaskill declined to say why the man’s age and hometown aren’t being released.

Police said Saavedra-Vargas on Sunday afternoon drove toward the festival area, swerved toward an officer on foot and crashed into a vendor.

Saavedra-Vargas died at the hospital.

No bystanders were hurt from the festival that typically draws 80,000 visitors.

Police said the confrontation began after they tried to stop the silver minivan that Saavedra-Vargas was driving in for a traffic stop.