2 slain in mysterious Northern California roadside shooting were a teenager and his father

"The two people killed in a roadside shooting near California's Hallelujah Junction were a 17-year-old Reno boy and his father, the Washoe County medical examiner's officer said. Spencer Browne, 17, and his father, Richard Browne, 43, were fatally shot around 8:50 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, on the shoulder of Highway 395 in Lassen County. A 39-year-old Reno man is in custody as the suspected shooter."

"According to the Lassen County sheriff's office, the Brownes were southbound in the area of the Long Valley Inspection Station when they pulled to the right shoulder. Another driver also pulled over, and the occupants of the two cars apparently got in a confrontation that ended with the shooting. A California Highway Patrol officer arrived as the shots were being fired, the sheriff's office said. The officer detained all the people involved and began providing medical care for those injured."

"The Brownes were pronounced dead at the scene. Few details have been released about the circumstances of the shooting. The sheriff's report said each of the cars had multiple occupants, all of them residents of Reno. It did not say whether the Brownes knew those in the other car. A statement Tuesday from the Lassen County district attorney's office said: This was not a road rage' incident, this was not gang related.' In the aftermath of the shooting, both directions of the highway were closed."

Spencer Browne, 17, and his father, Richard Browne, 43, were shot and killed around 8:50 a.m. on Dec. 6 on the shoulder of Highway 395 in Lassen County near Hallelujah Junction. The Brownes had pulled to the right shoulder near the Long Valley Inspection Station. Another driver also pulled over, and occupants of both cars apparently confronted each other, ending with the shooting. A California Highway Patrol officer arrived during the shooting, detained all involved and began providing medical aid. Both directions of the highway were temporarily closed. A 39-year-old Reno man was arrested and pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder; his next court appearance is Dec. 17.

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