ELKO, Nev. (KSTU) — The two people killed in a murder-suicide at the Elko Regional Airport on Monday have been identified as a father and his young son. Police are investigating what led to the tragic incident, and they're saying mental health issues could have been a factor.
According to the Elko Police Department, Giovanni Perez and his 11-year-old son, Callan, were traveling together when their rental vehicle became disabled near Winnemucca, Nevada. The two were then towed to Elko to get another vehicle.
It's not known where the two were traveling from, although it's known they had ties to California.
Police said they responded to reports of an active shooter at the airport around 12:30 p.m. Officers found 37-year-old Giovanni dead near the SkyWest terminal from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Bystanders then directed police to an airport bathroom where they found Callan suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. After first responders performed life-saving measures, the boy was transported to North Eastern Nevada Regional Hospital, where he later died.
Police said the father and son entered an airport restroom, exited, and then returned a second time, when it's believed the boy was shot.
“We did find some paperwork inside the vehicle that we believe Mr. Perez — Giovanni — had some mental health issues, so we are exploring that," Elko Police Lt. Shane Daz said. "Other than that, we don’t have a motive as to why he went into the bathroom and did what he did."
Because of a lack of information following the call, the Elko Bomb Squad was called to the scene and inspected the Perez's vehicle for explosives, but none were found.
The airport generally has one or two flights per day, to and from Salt Lake City. It resumed service Tuesday evening with an arrival at 5:30 p.m.
“In a tight-knit community like this, people get very upset, and it's hard to for them to process this tragedy, especially because we all have loved ones that are young, and so we start to put ourselves in that position when there is a juvenile involved," Daz said.
For those struggling with thoughts of suicide, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can now be reached by simply dialing 988 any time for free support.
