Officer involved shooting in Gardnerville; deputy fatally shoots man

By Sgt Jim Halsey, Public Information Officer, DCSO
On Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 at approximately 2:10 pm, deputies of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to what was reported as a dead body lying outside of a white truck in the Gardnerville Cemetery.
A DCSO deputy arrived on-scene approximately six minutes later and found an adult male, later identified as 77 year-old David Pendleton, in the cemetery near the described truck. Pendleton was holding a shotgun in his hands.

The deputy spoke to Pendleton in an attempt to get him to place the shotgun on the ground. At some point during the contact, Pendleton pointed the shotgun directly at the deputy. The deputy fired his duty firearm, striking Pendleton. Pendleton died at the scene before arrival of additional officers or paramedics.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has had past contacts with David Pendleton during which he has threatened to use weapons against civilians and law enforcement officers.
An incident investigation is being conducted jointly by investigators of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and State of Nevada Department of Public Safety.
A separate administrative investigation is being conducted by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.
The involved deputy, a six year veteran of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, has been placed on routine administrative leave.Per agency policy, the identity of the involved deputy will not be released for 48 hours.
No additional information can be released at this time.