HOLBROOK — A high-speed chase and shooting occurred in Holbrook, leaving a Nevada man and his dog dead by lethal force from a multi-response team in Navajo County, Arizona. The family explained the man had a severe mental illness that caused manic episodes stemming from severe bipolar disorder.
According to radio traffic, the suspect was initially described as a Black male wearing shorts. The suspect was later identified by Mountain Daily Star investigative journalists and confirmed by his family as Kevin Donald Peloso, a 54-year-old white male from Nevada.
Peloso lived in Fernley, in Lyon County, Nevada, with his adopted son and two dogs. His family said he was an avid cross-country and enduro motorcycle rider and was competitive most of his life.
He was diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder in 2007 and attempted to manage it with medication; however, the family said the medication proved toxic to him.
“It’s a disorder that Kevin had to live with, and we all tried to cope with it. It’s truly a debilitating disorder that at times left him in severe distress,” said the ex-wife. (She asked Mountain Daily Star not to use her name and to identify her as the ex-wife).
Peloso planned to travel through Arizona to pick up a new puppy in Texas while driving his RV toy hauler, towing his Bronco behind him. He had two dogs with him: a black dog named Shadow and a cattle dog named Truckee.
But he was showing severe mental distress before his departure.
Due to his behavior, Peloso’s ex-wife, adopted son, and friends contacted the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office on December 9. They said they requested a deputy check on Peloso and hoped he could receive a mental health evaluation related to his professionally diagnosed bipolar disorder and a recent family argument.
“I believed he could’ve killed himself, someone else, or caused harm to the dogs,” said the ex-wife. “I have never seen his bipolar disorder this bad, and he has never been violent in the over 25 years I have known him, but his behavior was so manic I was scared.”
Despite multiple reports, the family said the Lyon County deputy did not intervene, and Peloso continued his journey toward Texas.
While traveling, Peloso posted several videos to Facebook and Instagram that the family described as wildly manic. Mountain Daily Star reviewed the videos, which show Peloso yelling out the window of his RV while driving through Williams, Arizona.
“It’s time, it’s now, everybody go. You have to go. Spread the word. You have to back my mission. The Star Wars technology is in our hands,” he said in one video.
Peloso also claimed people were “clowns,” stated that Dodge and Jeep vehicles were the enemy, and described storm troopers watching him. He spoke repeatedly about a Death Star.
The family said Peloso smoked marijuana, which was visible in the videos, but denied any use of other controlled substances.
Additional Facebook videos show Peloso stopping his RV along the highway in Williams, watching trucks pass, and speaking about numbers. He said alcohol was poison and stated that he did not want to kill himself, his dogs, or anyone else.
Around December 10, Peloso arrived in Two Guns, Arizona, and stayed at a truck stop. After being asked to move, he pulled his RV into an abandoned stone building, where he remained for several days.
On December 13, Peloso was traveling eastbound on I-40 when he was stopped by a DPS trooper near milepost 303. According to the family, the stop involved concerns about his license plate and erratic driving.
The DPS press release states Peloso fled the stop at approximately 10:02 a.m. and drove into the desert.
He then drove to Adamana while being chased by several law enforcement officers, and property owner Joshua Dean said Peloso tore down his fences during the chase.
“He didn’t fire any shots while driving around our property. We heard sirens and vehicles,” Dean said. “He asked us for help.”
Peloso then traveled back roads between Navajo and Apache counties with pursuing law enforcement vehicles behind him.
At some point during the chase, Peloso’s Bronco stopped, and he let his dogs out. Truckee was sent out into the desert, and Shadow remained in the Bronco, according to witness reports.
“He loved those dogs. He must have let Truckee go because he was scared she would be killed,” said the ex-wife.”Shadow was too old to hop in and out of the truck.”
There are also reports that during this time, Peloso possibly fired his pistol at an overhead helicopter and at law enforcement.
Gunfire was possibly exchanged between Peloso and law enforcement near U.S. 180 and Bucket of Blood Street, and he was pronounced deceased by DPS at 1:46 p.m. on December 13. The black dog, Shadow, was also deceased.
Both Peloso and his dog were shot dead by responding law enforcement. The Bronco was rammed, its tires blown out, and left totaled.
Peloso’s family described him as a wonderful man who struggled with mental illness and was not in the right frame of mind at the time of the incident. They said he desperately needed help and expressed deep sadness and regret as they mourn his loss.
“We tried to get him help because we love him, but no one would listen. Now our son will have to grow up without his father,” the ex-wife said.
Truckee remains missing in the Painted Desert area north of U.S. 180 near Sun Valley. Anyone who sees her is asked to email, message, or call. The family wants her home.
If you or anyone you know has mental health issues, please seek help. Find the help, please.
