On Monday, April 13, 2026, a tragic murder-suicide unfolded at Elko Regional Airport in Nevada when a father fatally shot his 11-year-old son before taking his own life. The incident, which occurred around 12:38 p.m., claimed the lives of Giovanni Perez, 37, and his son, Callan Perez, 11.
The Elko Police Department responded to an active shooter call and discovered Giovanni’s body lying near the airline ticket counter. Bystanders directed officers to the airport’s restroom area, where they found Callan suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
The circumstances leading to the tragedy began when Giovanni and Callan were traveling together in a rental vehicle that became disabled outside Winnemucca, Nevada. The vehicle was towed to Elko Regional Airport, where the father and son planned to obtain another rental vehicle.
According to the investigation, both Giovanni and Callan entered the airport restroom and exited, then re-entered the restroom a second time together. It was during this second entry that Giovanni shot his son multiple times.
Following the shooting of his son, Giovanni Perez exited the restroom and shot himself near the airline ticket counter. Emergency responders, including Fire and EMS personnel, immediately began life-saving measures on Callan and transported him to North Eastern Nevada Regional Hospital. Despite medical intervention, Callan did not survive his injuries, making the incident a fatal murder-suicide .
Investigation by the Elko Police Department revealed that Giovanni Perez had reported suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from his military service. Additionally, authorities discovered that Giovanni was engaged in a custody dispute with Callan’s maternal grandparents and had been attempting to keep his son away from both the grandparents and his own family members. The specific motive for the shooting remains unknown, though investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The incident at Elko Regional Airport had significant operational impacts, affecting both inbound and outbound flights. The Elko Bomb Squad was called to the scene to process the rental vehicle for potential explosive devices as a precautionary measure, though no explosives were found. The airport was scheduled to reopen on the afternoon of April 14, 2026, following the investigation and scene processing.
The death of 11-year-old Callan Perez represents a tragic loss that has deeply affected the Nevada community and raised awareness about the intersection of mental health, military trauma, and family conflict. The Elko Police Department expressed their condolences to Callan’s family and urged anyone experiencing mental health crises to seek professional help or contact the National Suicide and Crisis Line at 988. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to fully understand the circumstances that led to this devastating tragedy.