Vol. 3, No. 16
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June 15, 2006
Nevada's Online State News Journal
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Top News Story:
Reno Family Court Judge Shot By Roof-Top Sniper
Suspect Is Pawn Shop Owner Who Was Frequently In Family Court
by Johnny Gunn
For the first time in more than 45-years, gunfire has been heard in a Washoe County courthouse. Family Court Judge Chuck Weller was wounded by sniper fire coming through his third-floor office window. Weller was shot once in the chest and is in serious but stable condition at Washoe Medical Center in Reno. Police believe the shooter was in the city parking garage located across the Truckee River from the courthouse. Police are saying the shooter probably used a high-powered rifle for the attempted assassination.
While police were beginning their investigation at the courthouse, a report of another murder came in, the victim Charla Mack. As police believe now, one man is allegedly responsible for both attacks, Mack's husband Darren Mack and a warrant charging him with murder has been issued. The Macks were involved in a contentious divorce proceeding before Judge Weller. Mack is the owner of Palace Jewelry and Loan, a Reno pawnshop.
Darren Mack (Reno Police Department photo)
Charla Mack was found stabbed to death in her garage. According to information made available to us, it is alleged that Mack and a friend went to the Mack home, and while the friend was watching one of the Mack children, Mack stabbed his wife to death. The friend, not identified, and not considered a suspect in any way, took the child to Mack's mother's house, then went back to the Mack residence where he found the body and notified police.
There is a considerable distance between the Mack home at 9900 Wilbur May Parkway in south Reno and the courthouse in downtown Reno. The shooting at the courthouse took place about 11:06 a.m. on Monday, June 12 and the murder in south Reno wasn't reported until afternoon. The time of death of Charla Mack hasn't been released by the Washoe County coroner at this time.
Also wounded in the courthouse shooting was Weller's assistant Annie Allison. Police believe she may have been hit with flying glass or possibly bullet fragments. Her injuries were not reported to be serious and she was released from Washoe Medical Center following treatment.
Mack is still at large as we go to press. He is believed to be driving a late model silver Ford Explorer with California plates, 5POR272. Mack stands about five-feet 11 inches, weighs between 190 and 220 pounds, has brown hair and brown eyes. Police warn that he is armed and should be considered very dangerous. If you believe you have information relating to this case, call Reno Police detectives at 775-334-2188 or 911.
Weller is in his first term as Family Court Judge and has been an active attorney in Reno since 1984 and was elected to Family Court in November 2004. As a private attorney Weller was active in divorce, family protection, domestic violence, and juvenile cases. He discussed the possibility of violence in Family Court with this reporter just weeks ago. "It's a volatile situation in Family Court," he said. "People are under stress, worried, and sometimes fearful."
Weller said he was extremely pleased that he won the election and felt he was doing some real good. "Family problems are difficult to discuss," he said. "People don't want to hang their laundry out in public, and in many cases there is real fear." He said abuse cases were the worst.
The position is Department 11 of the Second Judicial District. The alleged shooter, Darren Mack had been in Weller's court for a contested divorce. He has two children from a previous marriage, and one child with Charla. Charges of violence were traded between the couple, threats had been made. Darren Mack, according to Reno Police has access to many firearms. There is a previous wife living in the California mining community of Nevada City, and police there put her under protective surveillance following Weller's shooting and Charla's murder.
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