Julian Hutton-Reed. (Washoe County DA's Office)
From the Washoe County DA’s Office:
Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks announces that one of the teens connected to a deadly gang shooting in front of the University of Nevada, Reno, has been sentenced to life in prison. 18-year-old Julian Hutton-Reed pled guilty to First Degree Murder with the Use of a Deadly Weapon, Carrying a Concealed Firearm, and Destroying Evidence.
The Honorable Scott Freeman sentenced Hutton-Reed to life for the first-degree murder count, with a consecutive 8-20 years for his use of the deadly weapon – the maximum sentences under the law. He also was sentenced to concurrent time on the carrying a concealed firearm and destruction of evidence charges. Judge Freeman declined to apply any statutory juvenile reduction, despite the request of defense, as Hutton-Reed was 16 when he shot 17-year-old Santiago Rodriguez seven times.
The shooting occurred in August of 2023 at an apartment complex across the street from UNR. Reno Police learned that Hutton-Reed and his co-defendant, Stefan Howard, were hanging out on the rooftop deck with a group of people, drinking and smoking. Just after midnight on August 1st, another group of people arrived at the complex and were known to be rival gang members of the defendants. The two groups got into a verbal altercation, with video surveillance showing Hutton-Reed being handed a gun, racking the slide, and then chasing Rodriguez down Virginia Street and repeatedly shooting at him. Santiago fell to the ground after being shot and Hutton-Reed then fired two more fatal shots into Santiago.
Deputy District Attorney Jeff Hoppe highlighted that Hutton-Reed is an extreme danger to our community as he shot Santiago multiple times and then executed him in cold blood. Before sharing his ruling, Judge Freeman compared Hutton-Reed to a “ticking time bomb.”
Stefan Howard faces the same charges as Hutton-Reed and is accused of killing 15-year-old Manuel Garcia. His case is still in process.
