Elko Regional Airport murder-suicide: Giovanni Perez shoots and kills son, Callan Perez then self inside airport terminal amid mental health issues and ongoing child custody issues involving boy’s mother.
A man fatally shot him himself near the ticket counter at the Elko Regional Airport on Monday moments after shooting and killing his own young son whose body was found in a restroom at the airport.
Giovanni Perez is alleged to have shot and killed his 11-year-old son, Callan Perez before taking his own life in an apparent murder-suicide according to The Elko City Police department.
Nevada authorities had yet to state which state or city the father and son hailed from.
Dad shoots & kills son then self at Nevada airport
Officers with the Elko Police Department were called to the scene circa 12.38 p.m following reports of an ‘active shooter situation,’ where upon arrival, they discovered an adult man and a child suffering from gunshot wounds inside the terminal building.
The man, determined to the child’s father along with his son were declared dead despite attempts to provide life saving treatment to the son, who was pronounced deceased at hospital.
Investigators determined the father and son were traveling together when their rental vehicle became disabled outside Winnemucca, NV. They were towed to Elko to get another rental vehicle.
‘Both Giovanni and Callan entered the airport restroom and came back out,’ police said in a statement. ‘They then entered the restroom a second time together, where Giovanni shot Callan for an unknown reason. Giovanni exited the restroom and shot himself near the ticket counter.
Mental Health Struggles and Child Custody Issues involving boy’s mother
Posts shared on social media inferred the murder-suicide the result of ongoing mental health issues the father had been experiencing along with an ongoing child custody dispute involving the boy’s mother.
Stated AbbyBlabby on Facebook, ‘Sources have told me that the boy’s mother had been attempting for years to locate and regain custody of her son, at times notifying law enforcement and child protective services of his whereabouts, only for the father to allegedly evade them. The father was also reportedly hospitalized for mental health treatment for several months, during which time the child was allegedly concealed by his family members.
Sources further indicated the father had recently agreed to allow the boy — identified as Callen — to go live with his mother, before the fatal shooting occurred. She is devastated.’
The tragedy led to both inbound and outbound flights being affected. The airport reopened Tuesday afternoon.
