Shooting Near Hallelujah Junction Claims Two Lives

HALLELUJAH JUNCTION — A confrontation between occupants of two vehicles escalated into a fatal shooting on December 6, 2025, claiming the lives of two Reno residents along southbound Highway 395 in Lassen County. The incident unfolded around 8:50 AM near the Long Valley Agricultural Inspection Station, just south of Hallelujah Junction and approximately 20 miles northwest of Reno. California Highway Patrol officers responded swiftly to the scene, where they detained all involved parties and administered first aid, but the two victims succumbed to their injuries despite those efforts.

Authorities described the event as a roadside altercation that turned violent when the two vehicles, each carrying multiple passengers from Reno, pulled onto the southbound shoulder. Gunfire erupted between the groups as a CHP officer from the Portola Resident Post arrived on patrol nearby. The officer immediately secured the area and began life-saving measures, while additional agencies provided support for scene security and traffic control. Southbound lanes of Highway 395 remained closed for several hours, with motorists detoured via Red Rock Road to State Route 70; northbound lanes were also closed but for a shorter period.

The victims, identified only by age as a 39-year-old man and a 17-year-old juvenile, both hailed from Reno. Their names have not been released pending notification of next of kin and formal identification by the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office. Investigators noted that all individuals connected to the shooting have been identified, and officials emphasized that no broader threat to public safety exists following the incident.

Isacc Anthony Pedroza, a 39-year-old Reno resident, faces charges in connection with the deaths. He was arraigned on December 9, 2025, in Lassen Superior Court, where he entered a not guilty plea to two counts of open murder, along with enhancements for personal discharge of a firearm and a charge related to transporting an assault weapon. His next court appearance is set for December 17, 2025. Pedroza was arrested shortly after the shooting, according to the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office.

Lassen County District Attorney officials clarified key aspects of the case during Pedroza’s arraignment. “This was not a ‘road rage’ incident, this was not ‘gang related’ and there was no officer involved shooting,” the office stated in a release. Prosecutors withheld further details due to the ongoing investigation, but encouraged anyone with information to contact the CHP’s Quincy office at 530-283-1100. The CHP continues to probe the factors leading to the roadside stop and subsequent confrontation, with allied agencies assisting in the multi-jurisdictional effort.