A man was shot multiple times, chased into an apartment, and killed in a September 2024 shooting in Sparks. Now, a jury has convicted the man responsible of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
According to the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office, the jury reached its verdict after a brief deliberation. The shooting happened Sept. 18, 2024, on E Street, where John Heinz and Daniel Salas had been working to renovate an apartment.
The incident began when Yun Sam Kim entered the apartment’s living room appearing intoxicated. Salas spoke with him and gave him the name of the company they were working for. When Kim refused to leave, Heinz stepped in and began moving him out of the apartment.
Kim hit his head and then swung a plastic mug at Heinz before leaving and returning home to get a gun. Meanwhile, the two workers began packing their tools. Salas went upstairs while Heinz headed outside to their work truck.
Kim returned and shot Heinz twice outside the apartment.
Heinz ran back inside, yelling, “Dan, I got shot,” with Kim following him. Salas tried to close the front door but came face to face with Kim, who was holding a gun.
“I’m not here for you,” Kim told Salas while pointing the gun at him.
Kim tried to follow Heinz upstairs, but Salas tripped him on the stairs. Kim again turned the gun toward Salas before making his way to the second floor, where he chased Heinz and shot him four more times.
Salas followed and saw Kim pointing the gun at Heinz, who was on the ground. Salas struck Kim on the head with an impact driver, knocking him down.
While Salas was on the phone with 911, Kim began to regain consciousness and tried to point the gun at the men. Salas hit him again with the impact driver.
Sparks police initially responded after one of the victims called 911 to report the shooting. Officers found Heinz with multiple gunshot wounds and Kim unconscious on the ground with a head injury. Both men were taken to a hospital, where Heinz later died.
During the trial, prosecutors presented video showing Kim arriving at the apartment, leaving, and returning with a gun. Salas also testified about the events leading up to the shooting and what happened inside the apartment.
Kim is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 7, 2027.
