C.A. “Rusty” Walters

ELKO FREE PRESS

February 18, 1975

GUNMAN DIES AFTER INJURING TWO OFFICERS

Elko Police Officers C.A. “Rusty” Walters and Howard “Wally” Wotring were injured and Arthur J. Holling Jr., 26, was killed during an 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 Holling, 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 from 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.

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 to 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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