One of the two teens accused of killing two people near UNR in 2023 has pleaded guilty to first degree murder. 

The Washoe County District Attorney's Office says 18-year-old Julian Hutton-Reed also pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed firearm and destroying evidence. 

As a result, a judge sentenced Hutton-Reed to life in prison 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. 

Meanwhile, 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.

The duo allegedly shot rival gang members in front of the Fifteen 51 Apartments on Virginia Street, across from the University.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

Two teenagers accused of killing two people near the University of Nevada earlier this summer appeared together in a Reno court on Wednesday.

16-year-old Julian Hutton-Reed and 17-year-old Stefan Howard allegedly shot rival gang members in front of the Fifteen 51 Apartments on Virginia Street early last month.

Both boys are being charged with open murder with a deadly weapon.

On Wednesday a judge ruled the two will be tried in a single case.

The Washoe County District Attorney's Office told us the two boys will be appearing in court together.

Update: August 15:

On Tuesday, the 16-year-old suspect in the shooting, Julian Hutton-Reed appeared in court for a bail hearing.

The judge ordered he be held without bail.

Last week, a judge also set a no bail hold on the other suspect, 17-year-old Stefan Howard Jr.

Update: August 10:

The second suspect in a pair of shootings on North Virginia Street near UNR appeared in court Thursday.

16-year-old Julian Hutton-Reed's legal counsel filed a waiver of arraignment, and a bail hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15th.

Hutton-Reed is facing an open murder charge.

A status conference originally set for Thursday, August 17th was continued until Wednesday, September 13th.

Update, August 7:

The 17-year-old suspected of a fatal shooting near the University of Nevada last week is expected to appear in court on Monday.

Stefan Howard Jr. appeared for a bail hearing via video link from the Washoe County Jail last week but that was continued to this week.

The Washoe County District Attorney's Office tells us this is to make sure the suspect has an attorney appointed to represent him.

Update, August 4:

The second suspect was arrested and has been identified as 16-year-old Julian Hutton-Reed. He is pictured below:

Julian Hutton-Reed

Update, August 4:

2 News has obtained an arrest report that alleges this week’s fatal shooting happened between rival gang members, at the Fifteen 51 Apartments on North Virginia Street.

While the arrest report redacts a second suspect’s name, it does detail what the first suspect, 17-year-old Stefan Howard Jr. did during the incident.

The documents say video surveillance shows Howard Jr. and the second suspect encountering the victims inside the front lobby when an argument broke out. Eventually, more members from the victim group show up and when Howard Jr. tries to leave, police say he shoots through a window.

Police say the crowd starts to run away and one of the victims, whose name is redacted, stumbles back into the lobby and collapses on the ground.  A second victim tries to run back inside the lobby but is locked out, and when he tries to jump over the railing, the report says another gunshot rings out.

It says surveillance video then shows friends trying to perform CPR on one of the victims until the first Reno Police officers show up about five minutes later.

Police say a subsequent investigation revealed “multiple .380 caliber fired cartridge cases” outside the front door. The report goes on to say that several 9mm casings were found along the walkway of the apartment complex.

Police traced a phone number belonging to Howard Jr, which lead them to a family residence on Linden Street.

Eventually, officers were able to make a traffic stop on a car leaving that residence and then took Howard Jr. into custody later that same day.

During a police interview, they say he told authorities that the other group wanted to jump him and claimed that he didn’t know them before the alleged incident.

Howard Jr. was then booked into the Washoe County Jail and faces a charge of open murder. He’s scheduled to appear for a bail hearing next Monday after his first court appearance was continued to make sure has proper attorney representation.

The Washoe County coroner has identified the victims as 17-year-old Santiago Rodriguez and 15-year-old Manuel Garcia.

Reno Police have not said is the second suspect is in custody, or if they are still searching for them.

The investigation remains ongoing.

If you have any information, call or text your anonymous tip to Secret Witness at 775-322-4900.

ORIGINAL STORY: 

The 17-year-old suspected of a fatal shooting near the University of Nevada earlier this week appeared in court on Thursday.

Stefan Howard Jr. appeared for a bail hearing via video link from the Washoe County Jail but that was continued to next week.

The Washoe County District Attorney's Office tells us this is to make sure the suspect has an attorney appointed to represent him.

He is charged with open murder in connection with the shooting deaths of two people on Virginia Street across from the UNR campus early Tuesday morning.

The two victims were also under the age of 18.

The Washoe County coroner has identified one of the victims as 17-year-old Santiago Rodriguez. The coroner says he died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Police say the incident started as an argument at a different location and then ended at the Fifteen51 apartments.

The investigation remains ongoing.

If you have any information, call or text your anonymous tip to Secret Witness at 775-322-4900.