A man is charged with accidentally shooting a gun after a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Carson City last weekend.

Authorities say the gun went off while people were cleaning up the area immediately after the demonstration, around 6 p.m. 

The Carson City Sheriff's Office says Legislative Officers immediately seized an AK-47 Assault Rifle and detained the suspect, 22-year-old Grant Ensenat McBeth.

Then on Thursday, a warrant for issued by the Justice Court for the misdemeanor and arrested McBeth at his Sparks home. He was booked into the Carson City on $500.

No injuries were reported. 

Deputies say McBeth is cooperating with the investigation.

Authorities say carrying weapons to local demonstration are discouraged. While people have the right to carry a firearm, officials said they were thankful everyone remained calm and no one reacted aggressively.

 

User: Carson City Sheriff's Office To: link

 

ORIGINAL STORY - August 29, 2020: 

Week after week, for several months now, we've been seeing many protests in Carson City.

"Carson City is unique in the demonstrations we've been seeing in Northern Nevada, because it's the appropriate place." said Carson City Sheriff, Kenny Furlong. "When you're demonstrating and you want change in government, in the way government has run... in front of the legislature complexes, in front of your capitols, in those sacred areas, demonstrations should occur."

Furlong says the Carson City Sheriff's Office (CCSO) is continuously working with other law enforcement entities and with demonstrating groups to make sure protests remain peaceful.

However, after demonstrations on Saturday, two incidents prompted a police investigation.

CCSO says one of the incidents they are investigating involved shots being fired. Just before 6 p.m. people were cleaning the area after demonstrations, when a gun went off. CCSO said that it appears to have been an accident. 

According to officials, a demonstrator was carrying a type of rifle, and it discharged in the air. No arrests were made, but the gun was taken away and the person is cooperating with law enforcement. There were also no injuries reported due to the incident.

CCSO also says the other incident involved a caravan of protesters who were walking through the area in the crosswalks after initial protests ended. Officials also say, at some point words were exchanged with a driver, and CCSO says video evidence shows that a demonstrator may have walked in front of a moving car. No injuries were reported from that incident, but CCSO is continuing an investigation.

"Yes, there were a couple of incidents, but still no one arrested, no one hurt, and no property damage speaks well for everybody involved on all sides." said Furlong after the two incidents occurred.

Furlong said heated exchanges occur when different groups collide, however for the most part, Carson City has remained peaceful during protests. In fact, Furlong says the Nevada Legislature resembles a melting pot of passionate voices, fighting for different issues.

Furlong said, "A lot of the folks see this is as a left side and a right side demonstration and it's really not. There are factions within these demonstrations that go all the way from wearing masks, to gun rights, to the BLM movement, to political driven agendas."

A large majority of demonstrators support the Black Lives Matter Movement. Saturday's demonstrations consisted of people honoring Jacob Blake. Protesters were also calling for the arrest and prosecutions of the officers involved in the shooting. The message of police reform and solidarity against racism and police brutality is also an issue BLM protesters are fighting for.

Nejae Jackson, one of the organizers of Saturday's BLM protest said, "We're also fighting for educational equity in the black community. We're fighting for environmental sustainability. We're fighting to end systematic racism."

Counter protesters have also been demonstrating almost every week at the State Capitol. 

"We are not protesting against Black lives. We are not protesting for police brutality. We are protesting against Marxism as a rising force in this country."  said Steven Lane, a counter protester.

Religious groups and people holding up signs with the hashtag "Save Our Children" were also demonstrating at the Nevada Legislature.

Furlong told 2 News that the CCSO does not take sides in regards to demonstrations. It's number one goal is to make sure people are safe, and ensure that property is not damaged. 

The Carson City Sheriff gave his thoughts about the term 'defund the police.'

"Defunding to me is about addressing those public issues, those social issues, versus making criminals out of people who are just in a crisis type of a circumstance."

Furlong says Carson City has been working to add resources to tackle the roots of issues. An example he gave was the addition of Behavioral Health Officer's that patrol the streets.

"Locally I think that defunding the police actually began 20 years ago here in Carson City," said Furlong. "We began looking at other methods versus incarceration. We look at drug court issues, mental health court, veterans court, things that we can start attacking the problem at its core versus the symptoms of it."

Furlong also said systemic racism is an issue many communities are seeing, and it's a problem that should be addressed.

"We have to continue to make progress on racial issues. It's very easy to turn your back and say 'well I don't see it so it doesn't exist.' The fact of the matter (is), it does, and we all have to be aware of it, aware of our own personal characteristics, and what we can do to improve that equality in America." said Furlong.