Elko Police Officers C.A. "Rusty" Walters and Howard
"Wally" Wotring were injured and Arthur J. Holling Jr. , 26,
was killed during and exchange of gunfire yesterday evening in the
Double H Saddle shop, 419 Railroad st., where Holling was employed by
his father.
...Police Chief Dan Taelour said his investigation indicated the
incident occurred after the two policemen entered the shop and opened
a conversation with the younger Hollings, who was sweeping the floor
in the rear area of the establishment.
Taelour said Holling asked, "Are you going to take me to
jail?"
Walters replied in the affirmative and indicated Holling would have
to go to jail at least until bail had been posted on the three charges
indicated by the warrants.
At that point, Taelour related, Holling dropped the broom he had
been holding, ducked down behind the nearby workbench and come up
firing a .22 caliber revolver at Walters.
Two of those initial shots struck Officer Walters in the
midsection, and both policemen took out their guns and returned fire.
Taelour said Holling was about 15 feet away from the two officers when
the first shots were fired, and Holling advanced toward the two
lawmen.
The police chief said Walters fired his .38 caliber pistol twice as
he fell to the floor; and Wotring fired all six rounds form his .38
caliber pistol. Several shots struck Holling, who continued firing his
.22 pistol, and he fell to the floor not far from the point where
Walters went down.
Walters was struck at least four times in the midsection and arm;
and Wotring sustained lighter wounds in the neck and shoulder.
[added from 2/18/75 EFP article: "Stanley Ellison of
Tuscarora also was at the shop at the time of the shooting, and was
talking with the elder Holling when the gunfire erupted. Both
Ellison and Holling Sr., escaped injury"]
February 20, 1975
POLICEMAN WALTERS SUCCUMBS TO WOUNDS
Elko Policeman C.W. "Rusty" Walters, 37, died this
morning at Elko General Hospital, where he was being treated for
bullet wounds inflicted during an exchange of gunfire Monday evening
with a twice-convicted felon who was free on probation and bail bond.
Patrolman Walters had been reported in "guarded
condition" by hospital officials since he underwent extensive
surgery to repair damage to several internal organs, resulting from
two bullets from a .22 caliber pistol wielded by Arthur J. Holling Jr.
26, who died shortly after the shootout in an Elko saddle shop owned
by Holling's father.
...Wotring, a brother-in-law to Officer Walters, survived the
attack with only superficial wounds - a circumstance attributed to the
fact that the only bullet that struck him was deflected by a metal
button on his uniform coat.
Assistant Police Chief Phil Gielow said today his examination of
the local records indicates Patrolman Walters becomes the first member
of the Elko Police Department of have been killed in the line of duty.
Officer Walters was born in Newhall Calif., and had served on the
local police force since April 1, 1972. He has previous service as a
law enforcement officer with the Washoe County Sheriff's Department,
the Carlin Police Department and the Nevada Youth Training Center.
Officer Walters is survived by his widow, Linda and five children.
Mrs. Walters is a sister of Patrolman Wotring...
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