District Attorney Chris Hicks announces that a jury has convicted Edgar Hernandez-Jacinto of Second Degree Murder with the Use of a Deadly Weapon, as well as several drug charges. At trial, the Deputy District Attorney proved that Hernandez-Jacinto shot and killed LaMar Jarriett at a condominium complex on Sharlands Avenue in April of 2023.
Just after midnight on April 5th, Reno Police were called to the complex, after a teen reported his friend had been shot in the back. While investigating, officers quickly identified Hernandez-Jacinto as a suspect, based on witness testimony and text messages that Hernandez-Jacinto had sent to both the victim and friends. Police learned that the victim and the defendant had planned to meet up for Jarriett to buy marijuana cartridges from Hernandez-Jacinto. During the sale, the defendant realized that the victim had given him movie prop money instead of real bills, and in response shot at Jarriett.
Hernandez-Jacinto’s defense counsel argued that the defendant acted in self-defense. However during the trial, the Deputy District Attorney showed messages from the defendant where he admitted to shooting Jarriett in the back, saying “He started running thats (sic) when i noticed [the fake money] and shot at [him],” and “I had shoot some black kid this n**** (redacted here by the WCDA) have me fake money smh.” Additional text messages that Reno Police were able to get showed Hernandez-Jacinto not realizing he had already killed Jarriett, and messaging with a friend about wanting to set the victim up so he could finish the job.
Hernandez-Jacinto does not have a sentencing date at this time.
