Beloved CA cafe owner with ‘kind soul’ shot dead at Nevada casino, friends say

A Southern California restaurateur described by friends as a “kind soul” is among three people killed in a shooting outside a Reno casino, Nevada police reported.

Andrew Canepa, 33, died in a shooting spree Monday, July 28, at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, along with two others, Sparks police said in a news release.

Four others were injured, including the accused gunman, police said.

Canepa co-owned the Side Street Café in Newbury Park near Los Angeles, KABC reported.

“Andrew was a kind soul, a dedicated business owner, and a loving father to his young son,” wrote Andrew Gorell, a Ventura County supervisor, on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Canepa, who had a 6-year-old son, was remembered for his welcoming presence at the café, a popular breakfast spot, KTLA said.

“He would sit down with people at the booth, share with them and make them feel at home,” friend Rick Bucaria told the station. “Andrew was so warm and welcoming. He was always so happy.”

“He probably greeted and waited on almost everybody in this city,” friend Israel Rodriguez told KTLA.

Canepa and a friend, Justin Aguila, 33, of Southern California, were in the Reno area for a bachelor party, police said in the release.

They were shot in the back and killed while waiting outside the casino for a ride to the airport, police said.

Angel Martinez, 66, of Reno, also died when he was shot while driving through the parking lot, police said. Two others are hospitalized but expected to recover, and one person was treated and released, police said in an earlier news release.

Dakota Hawver, 26, of Reno, hospitalized in critical condition after being shot by an officer, is accused of firing more than 80 rounds from a 9mm pistol in the incident, police said.

Authorities in Sparks, just outside Reno, are leading the investigation because it involves a police shooting, the release said.

Investigators have not found a connection between Hawver and any of the victims or the casino, police said.

Police ask anyone with information to call 775-353-2231.

Newbury Park is about a 45-mile drive northwest from downtown Los Angeles.

This story was originally published July 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM with the headline "Beloved CA cafe owner with ‘kind soul’ shot dead at Nevada casino, friends say."