The quiet streets of Reno, Nevada, were shattered by a horrific crime that left the community reeling. A 17-year-old girl, Mashenka And Marie Reed, stands accused of brutally murdering her father and young brother in a seemingly unprovoked act of violence. This chilling case raises unsettling questions about the darkness that can reside within seemingly ordinary homes and the motivations behind such unspeakable acts.
A Family Annihilated, A Community Stunned
On a seemingly ordinary afternoon, the peace of a Reno neighborhood was shattered by the sound of gunshots. It was then that Mashenka And Marie Reed allegedly picked up the phone and calmly confessed to the 911 dispatcher, “I shot my dad. I shot my brother. My brother is dead.”
Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement officers discovered a scene of unimaginable horror. The young boy, aged four or five, lay lifeless on the couch, two gunshot wounds marking his tender head. In the garage, they found the body of the children’s father, his life taken by multiple gunshots to the chest and back.
Adding another layer of horror to this tragedy, Reed also faces an attempted murder charge. She is accused of attempting to kill her 2-year-old sister, first by locking her in a bedroom and later, allegedly, by attempting to force entry, armed with either a gun or a knife.
“I Couldn’t Resist the Urge”: A Glimpse into a Disturbed Mind
The chilling words uttered by Reed during that fateful 911 call echo the disturbing reality of this case: “I just couldn’t resist the urge to kill somebody.” This statement offers a glimpse into the mind of a young girl grappling with a darkness she seemingly could not control.
The investigation revealed that Reed’s father had taught her to use the gun in the past. In preparation for the murders, she allegedly researched gun use on YouTube while her father was away, even asking him to go out and buy pizza ingredients to buy herself time. These details paint a picture of premeditation, a chilling indicator of the calculated nature of her alleged crimes.
Police cars parked on a residential street
Searching for Answers: What Drove Her to Kill?
When questioned about her motive, Reed pointed to the emotional turmoil she experienced after her mother left the family. She revealed that she had been caring for her younger siblings, one of whom had autism, while her father attended school. She claimed that her brother’s behavior often angered her and that she had watched YouTube videos that inspired thoughts of torture.
However, seasoned psychologist Dr. John Delatori, while cautious about drawing conclusions without a formal evaluation, offers a different perspective. He believes that while the mother’s departure might have played a role, it is unlikely to be the sole catalyst for such extreme violence.
Dr. Delatori suggests that Reed may have been grappling with underlying emotional and psychological distress, compounded by the pressures of her role as a surrogate parent to her younger siblings. This pressure, coupled with a lack of healthy coping mechanisms, could have created a perfect storm within her mind, ultimately leading to a tragic eruption of violence.
A Community Seeks Justice, a Family Picks Up the Pieces
As the legal process unfolds, the community grapples with the enormity of the tragedy. The question of why remains a haunting presence, a chilling reminder of the complexities of human behavior and the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface.
This heartbreaking case serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the need for open communication, especially within families. It underscores the critical need for early intervention and support for young people struggling with emotional and psychological distress.