Spanish Springs, Nevada

From the Reno Gazette-Journal of September 27, 2005

Deputies continue to investigate Spanish Springs shooting death

Sheriff's deputies continued Monday to investigate the death of a 44-year-old man they believe was killed trying to break into a Spanish Springs home.

Miguel Cruz, who also went by Benito Tapia, of Sparks, was shot to death about 10:20 p.m. Saturday, Deputy Darrin Rice, Washoe County Sheriff's Office spokesman, said.

Deputies are investigating the possibility that the shooter was acting in self defense because Cruz was shot after he tried to break into a house in the 6000 block of Hibiscus Court, Rice said.

At least one person was in the home when the break-in happened, Rice said. Rice didn't know whether the shooter was inside the house.

When deputies arrived, Cruz already had died of a gunshot wound, Rice said.

Authorities did not release other details. No arrests had been made as of Monday, Rice said.

The Washoe County district attorney's office determines whether homicides are justified in possible self-defense situations, Rice said.

From the Carson City Appeal of September 30, 2005

Husband wasn't breaking in when killed, says family

Miguel Cruz was not trying to break into a Spanish Springs home when he was shot and killed Saturday, according to his family.

Instead, they said, he had gone to the home to retrieve his family's belongings from the house where he and his wife had been living for nearly a year.

Marcela Fierro, Cruz's wife, said the two met Jon Reynolds through mutual friends. They moved from Carson City in November into his house in the 6000 block of Hibiscus Court, where Fierro cooked and cleaned while Cruz did odd jobs around the house.

However, Fierro said the friendship ended when Reynolds began making romantic advances.

"It became an obsession," she said "He told me he would treat me like a queen. He made a lot of promises."

But, she said, she was never tempted. Cruz "was the love of my life."

"We were poor, but we were millionaires in love," she explained. "I'll love him forever."

She said Reynolds told Cruz he had to leave, but encouraged Fierro to stay. The couple moved out in June and returned to Carson City.

Fierro said she went back to the house to collect their personal belongings Saturday, but Reynolds told her he would not return her things until Cruz payed off a debt. Reynolds couldn't be reached Thursday to tell his side of the story, and police have not made public details of the shooting.

Cruz went to the home later Saturday. He didn't return that night, nor the next morning. Fierro drove to Reynolds' home to see if his car was still there, when, she said, Reynolds' girlfriend told Fierro that Cruz was dead.

It was reported as a home invasion.

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