Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks has determined that the January 8, 2023 Officer Involved Shootings (OIS) of Scott Kennedy and Jeremiah Graham by Reno Police Officers Steven Mayfield and Travis Look was justified and lawful under Nevada law.
Consistent with this office’s ongoing public reporting on all OIS cases, District Attorney Hicks has released a detailed 37-page report containing the facts of the case, photographs, witness accounts, and the legal analysis supporting the determination. This determination is based on an extensive review of the investigation conducted by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, which was submitted to this office.
The publication of this OIS Report was delayed until the ongoing criminal prosecution of Graham, stemming from the incident that led to the OIS, reached conclusion. The purpose of that delay was to maintain the integrity of the legal proceedings against Graham and aligns with our standard practice in such cases.
Inquiries regarding the release of any public records involving the investigation and its evidence can be directed to the involved law enforcement agencies.
Introduction of the Report:
On January 8, 2023, at approximately 6:11 p.m. Reno Police Department (hereinafter “RPD”) Officers were dispatched to 1570 Sky Valley Drive, Building D, regarding suspicious circumstances. The reporting party stated that her grandson lives in Building D and called to tell her someone had tried to open his apartment door, following which he heard a gunshot.
Upon arrival, RPD officers heard a female yelling in the vicinity of Building D, outside of apartment D301. Assuming the initial call for service was related to the female heard yelling, officers responded outside of apartment D301 and met with a female by the name of Anna Doyle (hereinafter “Doyle”). Doyle’s face was bloody, bruised, and appeared to be swollen. Doyle explained that she lives in apartment D301 with her boyfriend, Scott Kennedy (hereinafter “Kennedy”), Kennedy’s brother, Jeremiah Graham, (hereinafter “Graham”), and Graham’s girlfriend, Salina Cruz (hereinafter “Cruz”). Doyle, who appeared to be intoxicated, told officers that she had been in a physical altercation with Graham and Cruz. After she was battered by both Graham and Cruz, Cruz pushed Doyle out of the apartment and would not let her re-enter. Doyle explained that she didn’t want to press charges but requested that the officers help her gain access to the apartment so she could gather her belongings and leave the area.
RPD Officers attempted contact with the residents of D301. After a considerable amount of time had passed, Cruz answered the door and passed the officers a note indicating that she was sorry it took so long to answer but that she was sick and was sleeping. Cruz denied knowing what happened to Doyle but gave permission to the officers to enter the apartment with Doyle to collect her belongings.
When officers asked if they could do a security sweep of all the rooms in the apartment, Cruz denied the officers access to her room but allowed them to do a sweep of the remainder of the rooms of the apartment. Doyle and Cruz were asked whether any weapons were in the residence and they both indicated there were no weapons in the apartment. Cruz returned to her room, closed, and locked the door. Cruz did not come out of her room while the officers were on scene assisting Doyle. Doyle explained to officers she shared a room with her boyfriend, Kennedy, and needed to obtain clothes out of that room. As the officers escorted Doyle to her bedroom, they walked through the living room and observed an empty handgun holster resting on top of an aquarium located in the room. While in her bedroom, the officers noticed an AR rifle hanging from a sling on the bedroom wall, a shotgun leaning against the wall, and several Glock handgun cases strewn throughout the room.
Once Doyle had her belongings, the officers and Doyle left apartment D301 and went to the parking lot so that REMSA could check the injuries to her face. As REMSA attended to Doyle, an adult black female approached the officers. She asked if they were there because of the shooting that had occurred earlier in the day and provided the officers with a general location in the parking lot where she believed the incident took place. Upon inspecting the area, officers discovered .40 caliber bullet casings and red stains consistent with the presence of blood.
While officers were discussing the varying incidents that had taken place, Doyle separated from REMSA and refused to fill out a witness statement. Doyle explained to officers she had changed her mind and no longer felt safe. Doyle told officers that while she was with REMSA, she received a phone call from her mother telling her to leave the area because Graham was threatening to harm Doyle if she pressed charges. Despite being urged by officers to continue to fill out a statement, Doyle left the area. Once Doyle left the area, officers shifted their attention to the alleged shooting in the parking area where the bullet casings were located.
As officers were discussing the incident, Sergeant Steven Mayfield (hereinafter “Sergeant Mayfield”) arrived on scene. Sergeant Mayfield was briefed on the incidents that occurred since the officers arrived. Sergeant Mayfield explained that another call for service had come into RPD. According to the caller, Shane Downder (hereinafter “Downder”), he was the victim from the parking lot shooting and was presently waiting to be interviewed at the Wrightway Market at 330 Evans Avenue, Reno. Sergeant Mayfield sent officers to this location to interview Downder.
During the time that the officers were responding to Wrightway Market, Sergeant Mayfield, and Officer Travis Look (hereinafter “Officer Look”), remained at 1570 Sky Valley Drive to maintain the parking lot crime scene and monitor any activity occurring at apartment D301. Officer Look and Sergeant Mayfield grew concerned due to the large number of firearms found in apartment D301 and suspected the incidents might be connected. As a result, they devised a plan to approach the occupants of D301 if they were observed leaving the apartment. Sergeant Mayfield positioned his vehicle to the rear of apartment D301, while Officer Look positioned his vehicle on the opposite side, giving him a clear view into apartment D301. During their surveillance, Officer Look noticed movement in the bedroom where multiple firearms were stored, the room shared by Doyle and Kennedy.
During their surveillance, Officer Look observed two male subjects, who were later identified as Kennedy and Graham, walking near Building D and entering apartment D301. Once inside, Officer Look noticed movement in the bedroom shared by Doyle and Kennedy where multiple firearms had been previously located. While still in his vehicle, Officer Look saw Kennedy and Graham leave the apartment. As Officer Look reported the situation to dispatch, Sergeant Mayfield exited his patrol vehicle and attempted to approach Kennedy and Graham on foot.
Sergeant Mayfield came around the corner of Building E and at approximately 7:33 p.m. reported over the radio that two males carrying firearms were running away from the apartment. Moments after reporting the two individuals, later confirmed to be Graham and Kennedy, Sergeant Mayfield issued a verbal command, shouting, “Reno Police! Stop! Stop!” Almost immediately, shots were fired in his direction, prompting Sergeant Mayfield to return fire.
Upon hearing the gunfire, Officer Look exited his vehicle with his AR-15 rifle and quickly moved toward the area where the shots were coming from. At this time, Sergeant Mayfield indicated over the radio that he had been shot. As Officer Look advanced toward Kennedy and Graham, he fell to the ground after he saw bright muzzle flashes coming toward both him and Sergeant Mayfield. After several more shots were fired, Officer Look stood up and returned fire in the direction of the muzzle flashes. Officer Look recalled one subject being in a type of “prone position” on the ground and appeared to be shooting at Officer Look and Sergeant Mayfield. Sergeant Mayfield updated dispatched over the radio, “two suspects, both down, still shooting. Expediate REMSA!”
Officer Look fired multiple shots in the same direction. Despite being wounded, Sergeant Mayfield continued to return gunfire at Kennedy and Graham until no further shots were fired. Sergeant Mayfield was found lying on his back in a snow covered, grassy, open area between apartment Building D and E. Officer Look ran to Sergeant Mayfield and discovered that Sergeant Mayfield had been shot multiple times.
Two armed civilians, who had been in the nearby laundry room at the apartment complex, quickly responded to assist and provide cover for both Sergeant Mayfield and Officer Look until additional officers arrived. They assisted in caring for Sergeant Mayfield and helped assess his injuries.
Responding RPD officers arrived on scene and approached both Kennedy and Graham. Kennedy was found deceased and lying on his stomach with an AR rifle still in his hands, extended above his head. He had a Glock 22 handgun in his waistband and three unopened boxes of ammunition nearby. Graham was found alive, having sustained a gunshot wound to his leg. Located next to him was a black backpack containing a firearm, and an AR pistol wrapped in a shirt was discovered near him in the bushes. Graham was handcuffed and transported to Renown hospital for treatment.
Sergeant Mayfield was rushed to Renown Hospital, where he was admitted and underwent emergency surgery to treat multiple gunshot wounds.
Consistent with the regionally adopted Officer Involved Shooting (hereinafter “OIS”) Protocol, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (hereinafter “WCSO”) led the investigation into the shooting of Kennedy and Graham. Secondary investigative support was provided by the Sparks Police Department (hereinafter “SPD”) and forensic services were provided by the Washoe County Crime Lab (hereinafter “WCCL”). The investigation included witness interviews, examination of physical evidence, review of Body Worn Camera footage (hereinafter “BWC”), video surveillance footage, and forensic examination of evidence.
Graham was subsequently charged and pled guilty to two counts of Possessing a Firearm by a Prohibited Person – a felon. On August 14, 2023, Graham was sentenced to an aggregate sentence of 144 months in prison with parole eligibility commencing after 56 months have been served. As is standard practice, the review of the OIS and the release of this public report was held pending the outcome of Graham’s prosecution to maintain the integrity of the legal proceedings against him.
All investigative reports, photographs, documents, video footage, forensic reports, witness statements, and recorded interviews were submitted to the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office on October 11, 2023, for the purpose of determining the legality of the actions in the OIS event involving Kennedy and Graham. No criminal charges were recommended by WCSO for RPD Sergeant Mayfield or RPD Officer Look who were involved in the incident. The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office evaluation included a thorough review of all submitted investigative materials.
Based on the available evidence and the applicable legal authorities, it is the opinion of the Washoe County District Attorney that the shooting of Kennedy and Graham by RPD Officers was legally justified and not a criminal act.
Excerpt from Analysis:
On January 8, 2023, the use of deadly force upon Kennedy and Graham was justified based upon the imminent danger Kennedy and Graham posed to Sergeant Mayfield and Officer Look. The danger presented was corroborated by witness interviews, BWC footage, evidence collected at the scene, and evidence collected from apartment D301.
The evidence shows that police were called to Building D due to suspicious activity occurring involving a gunshot and someone trying to enter another’s apartment. When officers arrived, unsure of all the facts of the call for service, they encountered a battered Doyle who was screaming and attempting to re-enter apartment D301 – Kennedy and Graham’s apartment. Upon consensually entering apartment D301 with Doyle, officers saw numerous weapons, despite being told no such weapons existed. Upon leaving the apartment, officers were told about another dangerous incident that had also occurred at the apartment complex involving a shooting in the parking lot outside of Building D. Officers suspected that these incidents may be related thus they continued to further investigate and wait to see whether any activity occurred in D301.
Upon seeing movement in the bedroom where the firearms were located and then seeing Kennedy and Graham exit the apartment, Sergeant Mayfield exited his patrol vehicle to further investigate the dangerous situations reported. When realizing that Kennedy and Graham were carrying guns in their hands, Sergeant Mayfield identified himself as RPD and made the appropriate commands for them to stop. Graham and Kennedy both possessed multiple firearms and did not heed Sergeant Mayfield’s commands. In fact, within seconds of making those commands, Sergeant Mayfield was fired upon and shot.
In that moment, Sergeant Mayfield faced imminent danger of great bodily harm or death. It was absolutely necessary for him to use deadly force to protect himself and others. Sergeant Mayfield’s injuries are proof of the irrefutable evidence that Kennedy and Graham posed an imminent danger to Sergeant Mayfield, Officer Look, and the public in the area.
Officer Look immediately became aware of the dire situation based on the information already obtained in the investigation and upon hearing gunshots. Once Officer Look came around the corner near the laundry room, he heard more gunshots and saw what appeared to be muzzle flashes pointed in his and Sergeant Mayfield’s direction. In that moment, Officer Look faced imminent danger of great bodily harm or death. It was absolutely necessary for him to use deadly force to protect himself, Sergeant Mayfield, and others.
After the activity stopped, FIS and Officers located numerous firearms, ammunition, fired cartridge casings, and unfired cartridge casings. The evidence shows that Kennedy was lying in a prone position and fired an AR-rifle at Sergeant Mayfield and Officer Look 19 times. Furthermore, he had an additional firearm and ammunition on his person. Graham possessed an AR-pistol with a drum magazine containing 40 rounds and another handgun when he disobeyed Sergeant Mayfield’s commands to stop, and Kennedy began firing upon the officers.
Unless new circumstances come to light that contradict the factual foundation upon which this decision was made, this case is officially closed. Copies of all completed OIS reports are available on the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office’s website at washoelife.washoecounty.gov/ois-reports/
