July 8, 2024 | By: Sarah Mitchell, PCC Advocate

Ryan Connelly was born on May 7, 1995, in Reno, Nevada. The youngest of four siblings, Ryan was the baby of the family.  “Ryan came out with a full head of hair, big cheeks, and the best personality even as a baby.  I knew he was going to be special” his mother, Deana explained.  She laughed as she recalled calling him “Baby Buddha” for his big belly and his love of food.  Ryan continued to grow big and tall and at 17 years of age he stood at 6 feet 2 inches.  “He was a gentle giant, he looked big and mean but he wasn’t,” said Andrea, his sister, remembering her brother fondly.

Deana described Ryan as a sweet, funny, and a caring child, “Couldn’t find a better kid than him.” Ryan loved to play football and soccer. “He was a natural at everything he did,” stated Deana.  The Pittsburgh Steelers were his favorite football team and Brazil his favorite soccer team.  Andrea, with a deep exhale, expressed that it was hard to talk about her brother without getting emotional.  “Where to begin with Ryan, he was just the best.  His smile lit up any room.  I could be on my darkest day and Ryan would come over and his hug and smile would make everything better.”  As a young child, Ryan was diagnosed with ADHD.  His diagnosis could sometimes be difficult, but his crazy, silly energy made him who he was.  Ryan loved watching movies and T.V. “He loved watching ‘MADTV’ and would make everyone laugh along with his humor.”

Ryan was excited about his future.  He was looking forward to joining the Navy and becoming a Navy Seal.  “That was his dream since he was a child, and he never wavered from it,” Deana explained.  Ryan was so passionate about joining the Navy he got off his ADHD medication at 16 and a half to be able to enlist.  Andrea admits, “I was nervous about him joining the Navy, but since he was little that was all, he wanted to do.  Whenever I see anything, Navy related, all I can think about is Ryan.  He would have created an amazing legacy.” Ryan’s dream of becoming a Navy Seal and watching his 3-week-old daughter grow up never came to fruition.

On July 7^th, 2012, Ryan spent most of the day at home, waiting for his girlfriend and 3-week-old baby girl to come over.  After waiting, Ryan decided that he was going to go to a friend’s house around 8:30 p.m. in the same apartment complex where he lived. It was a hot summer night in Nevada and Deana and some of the neighbors were outside playing dominoes. They had lived in the same apartment complex for 13 years, so she was very well acquainted with her neighbors. As Ryan left, she requested that he check in every hour, whether it was by text or phone call.  Deana watched Ryan walk away, not knowing that it would be the last time she saw him alive.  By 10:30 p.m. Deana was expecting another check-in from Ryan when her phone rang.  She couldn’t hear anything, then the phone hung up.  She attempted to call Ryan again and again, but he wasn’t answering.

Moments later, a neighbor came running up to the group shouting “Ryans hurt, come quick!”  Deana threw on her shoes and ran to where she knew Ryan was at.  “I couldn’t run fast enough.  I see people standing around and I’m wondering where my kid is!” Deana exclaimed. Deana ran into the apartment and could see his size 13 feet and ran to his side.  Deana tearfully explained, “Ryan is laying there, and everyone is screaming his name.  I’m trying to wake him up and he’s not waking up.  I can still hear my voice screaming “Don’t leave me, fight!” People at the scene stated that he had stumbled into the apartment where he was found. Reno Police showed up at the scene at 10:26 p.m. and attempted life saving measures, paramedics loaded Ryan onto a gurney and headed to Renown Regional Medical Center.  Deana followed in her car, driving like crazy trying to get to the hospital to see Ryan.  While at the hospital waiting for any news on her beloved son, Doctors brought her back into a room and told her, “Ryan didn’t make it, and that he had been shot.”  She thought they were lying, “My kid, why? My kid, why Ryan?”

Reports state that Ryan was seen on surveillance video walking down Sutro street to a go-mart on the corner of Oddie Boulevard, in Reno, Nevada before the shooting.  Police did confirm that he was alone on the video.  Detective Dustin Allen with the Reno Police department was quoted in a 2017 news article saying, “He doesn’t spend a whole lot of time there, and there doesn’t seem to be anything distressful or anything problematic for him at that point.”  Ryan then begins to make his way back to the apartment and witnesses state they heard an argument and then multiple gunshots.  Police and Deana canvassed the area that night looking for anyone with information.  The case has gone unsolved, and Deana and her family are still fighting for justice for Ryan.  Unfortunately, the news media ran a story labeling the homicide as “Gang Related.”  Deana and her family feel as though the media has dug a hole that they can’t get out of.  She and her family have fought hard to change the narrative around Ryan’s homicide.

Deana said tearfully, “Ryan was a 17-year-old child who had dreams and goals.  Ryan was a father, a football star, and a future Navy Seal.  Ryan was just that kid.  He was going to be somebody, somebody big in the Navy.  He was going to be the best soldier they ever saw.”  Andrea stated, “Memories and flashbacks come randomly, I could be anywhere, and flashbacks just take me back to that night.”

Deana is continuing her fight for justice for her son, and says “His Angelversary is my new birthday, I had to be reborn.  It’s hard to keep on living, we just exist.”

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Anyone with information is asked to contact the Reno Police Department at 775-334-2115. Anonymous tips can be given to Secret Witness at 775-322-4900, online at www.secretwitness.com or by texting the tip to 847411 (TIP 411) with the keyword “SW”.

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