A troubled father fatally shot his 11-year-old son before turning the gun on himself inside a Nevada regional airport in an apparent murder-suicide, police said.
Giovanni Perez, 37, was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound lying near an airline ticket counter at Elko Regional Airport Monday afternoon, with his son, Callan, discovered inside a restroom suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Elko Police Department.
Police said bystanders directed them to the bathroom upon arriving at the scene around 12:40 p.m.
Giovanni Perez, 37, and his 11-year-old son, Callan, were found with fatal gunshot wounds inside Elko Regional Airport. ABC4 Utah The boy was then taken to North Eastern Nevada Regional Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Police said the pair were traveling outside Winnemucca when their rental car broke down.
The duo were towed to Elko, about 290 miles east of Reno, to get another renta when they went inside the airport and into a restroom. They both came out and then re-entered the bathroom, where Giovanni allegedly shot his son, authorities said.
The father then walked out and shot himself near a ticket counter.
With limited information at the grim scene, police said the Elko Bomb Squad was called to inspect the duo’s rental car, but no explosives were found.
The father’s motive for carrying out the apparent murder-suicide remains unclear. ABC4 Utah The fatal incident briefly shuttered the airport as cops probed the scene. It reopened on Tuesday.
“The investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing,” Elko police said.
“The Elko Police Department would like to express our deepest condolences to the family of Callan Perez. No family should ever have to experience a loss like this.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
