Reno, Nevada — Beginning in August 2025, detectives with the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) initiated an investigation into a series of armed robberies occurring at local convenience stores throughout the Reno area. Between Aug. 18 and Sept. 20, 2025, four armed robberies were reported involving two suspects. In each incident, the suspects were armed with a handgun.
During the investigation, CGIC detectives canvassed businesses throughout the city
and reviewed hundreds of hours of video surveillance in an effort to identify and track
the suspects.
The investigation further revealed the suspects were also involved in additional criminal activity, including vehicle burglaries, commercial burglaries, and grand larceny of motor vehicles.
Throughout the investigation, officers from the Reno Police Department and the Sparks Police Department attempted to conduct traffic stops on vehicles associated with the suspects. The vehicles failed to stop and eluded officers; however, due to public safety concerns, the vehicles were not pursued.
On Dec. 18, 2025, one of the suspects was taken into custody at a local Reno business.
An arrest warrant was subsequently obtained for the second suspect, who was taken
into custody on Jan. 14, 2026, at a local Reno business.
Arrested:
Christopher Mikesell – Reno resident
• Robbery with a deadly weapon
• Ex-felon in possession of a firearm (four counts)
• Grand larceny of a firearm (four counts)
• Burglary (three counts)
• Possession of a stolen motor vehicle (two counts)
Kenton Thompson – Reno resident
• Robbery with a deadly weapon (four counts)
The CGIC is a multi-agency unit comprised of detectives/agents from the Reno Police
Department, Sparks Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The center aims to prevent gun violence by quickly collecting, analyzing, and sharing intelligence on firearms used in crimes, focusing on identifying armed offenders for investigation and prosecution, linking shootings, and disrupting illegal gun sources.
