Reno Teen's Double-Homicide Trial Delayed

Washoe County District Court Judge Lynne Simons postponed the double-homicide trial of 17-year-old Elijah Heard to January 12, 2027, on May 16, 2026. The Reno teenager faces two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in connection with shootings on August 27, 2024, that killed two people. Heard was 16 at the time of the alleged crimes and has pleaded not guilty. ### What charges does Elijah Heard face? Elijah Heard, now 17, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon. Prosecutors allege he shot and killed 42-year-old Shane Lee Voyles and 32-year-old Shawna Marie Forester during an incident near Reno's downtown area on August 27, 2024. A third victim, an unidentified male, survived after being shot in the leg. Heard was arrested the following day at a Reno-area home and held without bail at Washoe County jail. Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks' office certified Heard to stand trial as an adult in September 2024, following a certification hearing. Heard entered his not guilty plea during an October 2024 arraignment before Judge Simons. ### What caused the August 2024 shootings? The incident unfolded around 2:30 a.m. on August 27, 2024, in Reno's 300 block of East Fourth Street, near the Cal-Neva Club casino. Reno police responded to reports of gunfire and found Voyles and Forester dead at the scene from gunshot wounds. The surviving victim flagged down officers nearby and identified Heard as the shooter, according to an arrest report. Witnesses told investigators that Heard arrived in a vehicle, exited, and opened fire on the group without provocation, police affidavits state. Ballistic evidence linked shell casings from the scene to a handgun recovered during Heard's arrest. He was located hiding in a bedroom closet of a home in Reno's 1700 block of Yale Way. ### Why was the trial delayed to 2027? Judge Lynne Simons granted a defense motion to continue the trial on May 16, 2026, moving the start date from October 20, 2026, to January 12, 2027. Public defender William Routsis II, representing Heard, cited the need for additional time to review discovery materials and prepare motions, court minutes show. The prosecution did not oppose the continuance. This marks the second major delay in the case. An initial trial date set for April 2026 was vacated in March after defense requests for more preparation time amid voluminous evidence, including video footage and forensic reports. Heard remains in custody without bond. ### Who are the victims? Shane Lee Voyles, 42, and Shawna Marie Forester, 32, were homeless at the time of the shootings and known to frequent Reno's downtown riverwalk area. Voyles was originally from California and had lived in Reno for several years, family members told the Reno Gazette-Journal. Forester, also from out of state, was remembered by friends as kind-hearted. A GoFundMe for Forester's family raised over $5,000 by September 2024 to cover funeral costs. The third victim, a man in his 30s, was treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and released. ### What is the status of Elijah Heard's background? Elijah Heard had no prior adult criminal record in Nevada court databases as of his arrest. Juvenile records, if any, remain sealed per Nevada law for minors. He was living in Reno at the time and identified as a student, per police reports. Community advocates have raised concerns about youth violence in Reno amid a series of 2024 downtown incidents. Reno Police Chief Robin McRae noted in a September 2024 briefing that homicides were up 20% year-over-year, though not directly linking to this case. ### When is the next court date? Washoe County District Court has scheduled Heard's next pretrial hearing for October 17, 2026, at 9 a.m. in Department 8 before Judge Simons. Jury selection for the trial is set to begin January 12, 2027, with opening statements to follow. The trial is expected to last three weeks. ```