At 8:53 Sunday evening, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office was notified of a violent threat at the Olive Garden Restaurant on South Carson Street.
Initial reports indicated that a man, later identified as David Paul Lane had entered the business alone and at some point became agitated, then confronted the manager and staff with a loaded semi-automatic pistol.
Lane is reported to have drawn his pistol in the restaurant while walking through the dining area.
He demanded to go back to the kitchen area. Efforts to calm Lane were unsuccessful. He confronted a second manager and chamber a round into the gun (ejecting a round that was already in the chamber) and threatened to shoot if not allowed in the kitchen.
Lane walked through the kitchen area and then left the building. Patrons in the restaurant were being evacuated and one captured the license plate of Lane's vehicle, registered to a Douglas County address on Mica Way. Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies were alerted and were able to arrive at Lane's residence before he returned. After a physical confrontation, Lane was taken into custody. The weapon used at the restaurant was located in Lane's possession at the time of arrest. He was transported to the Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center for treatment. Lane was released from the hospital and booked into the Carson City Jail.
Lane has been booked on two charges of Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Felony, $20,000 each bail), Burglary with a Weapon (Felony, $40,000 bail), Carrying a Concealed Weapon (Misdemeanor, $137 bail), and Battery (Misdemeanor, $137 bail). Lane is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, July 24th at 9:00 a.m..
While there were no persons treated for injuries at the restaurant, one person was reported to have been slightly injured as customers rapidly fled the dining areas.
David Lane has one prior arrest in Carson City resulting from a traffic infraction in December 2010. At the Carson City Sheriff’s Office, there were no records of violence or mental health data on file.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to commend the staff and patrons of the Olive Garden Restaurant for their preparedness, efforts to calm the suspect, and their evacuation of the area without causing any injury to innocent persons. Further, without the rapid reporting of the license plate number, this incident could not have been resolved so quickly.