Reno, Nevada

From the Reno Gazette-Journal of July 22, 2005

Shooting in Reno park puts 1 in hospital

A barking dog led to an argument and a life-threatening gunshot wound in a Reno park late Wednesday night.

Police said a 38-year-old man was sitting in Huffaker Park munching a hamburger and fries at about 10 p.m. when a man walked by with his three dogs.

Kevin Kramer’s cocker spaniel, Harley, barked at Willard “Ross” Brymer Jr. Police said Brymer was shot in the chest during the dispute. Brymer underwent surgery Thursday at Washoe Medical Center, Lt. Ron Donnelly said.

Kramer, 51, said during a Thursday interview he shot Brymer in self defense after being hit in the head at least twice and knocked to the ground. Before that, Kramer said he showed Brymer his gun and told him to leave.

“I was in fear of my life,” Kramer said, adding he’s been walking in Huffaker Park for the past 15 years without incident. “I hoped that he was just belligerent and would go away, but unfortunately he didn’t.”

After the Reno men exchanged words, Kramer said he was waiting for traffic to clear to cross the street when he saw Brymer sprint up to him. He said Brymer continued to yell at him about controlling his dog and got very close to his body. Kramer said he showed Brymer his gun and told him to go away, which prompted Brymer to say “shoot me.”

As Kramer was falling to the ground, he said he fired one shot. He then called police on his cell phone while Brymer collapsed in the street.

“I’m glad I took the course to get my permit to carry a concealed weapon because it probably saved my life,” Kramer said. “If I hadn’t been armed, I would not be talking to you today. This just really reinforces having a gun, because you just never know what’s going to happen.”

No arrests were made Thursday and police are looking for more witnesses. Donnelly said detectives have received conflicting reports about what occurred before the shooting.
…

Brymer’s deceased father, Willard Ross Brymer Sr., was sent to prison on a manslaughter charge for the May 1976 killing of boxer Oscar Bonavena at the Mustang Ranch, where the senior Brymer worked as a bodyguard for brothel owner Joe Conforte. He died in 2000 after serving a separate prison term for arranging the sale of Valium to undercover police.

The son served a prison sentence in Nevada after being convicted of possession of narcotics.

No subsequent stories suggest that charges were ever filed.