The Storey County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what it says are concerning reports and video of an alleged racist incident that occurred in Virginia City on Friday.

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating reports of a video on TikTok in which a man alleges that a white man made racist statements toward him in Virginia City.

“We at the sheriff’s office do not condone or support racism, inequality, or hate speech,” the department stated in a news release.

“All reports to the Storey County Sheriff’s Office are investigated thoroughly and treated seriously,” the release said. “A case has been pulled regarding this incident and is being investigated. We thank each and every one of you for your patience while the investigation is being finished. “

The Virginia City Tourism Commission also released a statement condemning the incident, which it called “hateful and racist” and underscoring that the commission finds “this behavior abhorrent and inexcusable” and “stands against any acts of hatred or violence.”

The video was taken by a Black man, not visible in the video, who said he was working a job when the incident occurred. A man who uses the name “Uncle Ricky” or unclerickyd1 on TikTok said on the social media platform that he was the man who took the video and was the target of the alleged racist remarks.

He alleges in the video that a white man, who is seen giving him the finger, had told him they had “a hanging tree for people like me” in the city.

A loud argument with much profanity ensued, with some people who seem sympathetic to the man, others not, until a woman who said he was on her property appears to escort him away as he continues to protest and repeatedly asks her not to touch him.

The incident happened during the annual Hot August Nights classic car event.

Organizers of the event also released a statement called the incident “a very unfortunate and intolerable incident occurred during our kick-off event in Virginia City this weekend.”

“It was inexcusable and not at all representative of our classic car culture or community,” the statement continued. “Hot August Nights celebrates and welcomes individuals from all walks of life and backgrounds and our organization does not condone nor support racism or hate speech.”

The statement ends, noting that “we hope that this will not dampen our attendees and participants spirits as we host our events in Reno-Sparks over the coming week. Our commitment is for a safe and inclusive space for everyone.”

Contact Jeff Burbank at jburbank@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0382. Follow him @JeffBurbank2 on Twitter.

A DISTURBING argument between a Black man and a group of white people at a large summer event in Nevada has been caught on video.

The clip shows a Black man yelling at a white man for allegedly telling him to find the “hanging tree” and then laughing before the Black man is ushered off the property.

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The altercation occurred earlier this weekend at a Hot August Nights event in Virginia City, Nevada, located about 35 minutes outside of Reno.

TikTok user Uncle Ricky (@unclerickyd1), the Black man in the video, shared the upsetting viral clip that has already been viewed over 650,000 times.

At the start of the video, Uncle Ricky can be heard asking the white man in a black t-shirt to repeat what he had said about “where the hanging tree is at.”

“In your backyard,” the white man responds, balling his hands into fists.

It appears a white woman tries to tell the white man that she agrees with Uncle Ricky, but she is ignored and pushed aside.

The white man soon sits back down into a folding chair set up on the sidewalk before two other white women exit the nearest shop to encourage Uncle Ricky to leave the sidewalk and the sitting men due to the commotion.

The younger woman can be heard saying that the white man is her father, while the older woman tries telling Uncle Ricky to calm down and go away.

After the clip went viral, internet sleuths claimed to have identified the white man and older woman as a couple from the nearby town of Minden, according to local news site The is Reno.

CITY OFFICIALS CONDEMN RACISM

City officials quickly posted a response to the video condemning the behavior.

“Earlier this weekend, an incident occurred in which individuals were harassed during an event, and comments were made that were hateful and racist,” officials wrote on the social media platform X.

“We want to make it clear on behalf of the Virginia City Tourism Commission that we find this behavior abhorrent and inexcusable.”

“Virginia City is an incredible historic town with vibrant events and a welcoming atmosphere. We stand wholly against any acts of hatred, racism, or violence,” representatives added.

“Virginia City is proud to be a town that invites all individuals, and we are working closely with our merchants and event partners to create a community that is inclusive and open to all.”

SUMMER NIGHTS HEATING UP

According to the event’s history page, Hot August Nights is an annual celebration that started in 1986 to revitalize the small mining town during the slow and steamy month of August.

Over the last forty years, the event has ballooned into a popular community gathering that attracts thousands of spectators and includes dozens of activities organized by area businesses, artists, and others.

The alleged owners of Virginia City’s Firehouse Saloon, the business where the argument occurred, said they were not “affiliated” with the people in the video.

But one of the women in the clip is wearing a shirt bearing the company’s name.

Local reporters report that since the video went viral, the owners have received a “firestorm” of comments online.

In a follow-up video on TikTok, Uncle Ricky thanked people for supporting him and said he was working in Virginia City when the “hurtful” incident occurred.

COMMUNITY ENRAGED, AND AFRAID

Thousands of people have since posted comments denouncing the argument and racism in general, comparing the argument to a scene from a horror flick.

“It’s like something out of a horror movie when they all come out and surround him with smiles on their faces and the high-pitched, overly sweet voices. I hope he gets justice and they get jail time,” one person commented on TikTok.

“I felt like I was watching a horror movie. This is the scariest thing I’ve ever seen,” a second added.

Several people said they felt fear after watching the clip.

“I’m Mexican looking at a screen & I’m hyperventilating I’m so sorry. I cannot imagine the feeling,” one person wrote.

“They were like a mob. This was so scary. I am so sorry you went through this. I wish I was there to cuss them out with you!!” another posted.

A request for comment from The U.S. Sun was not immediately addressed by Uncle Ricky or the organizers of the Hot August Nights event.

The white man and women accused of racism in the video could not be reached for comment by The U.S. Sun.

A Virginia City, Nevada couple identified as Gary Miller and his wife, Janice Cusack Miller, owners of the Firehouse Saloon bar, are going viral over racist behaviour they exhibited at an Hot August nights event.

The duo was seen on video engaging in some disturbing behavior while interacting with an African American.

They reportedly threatened to hang (lynch) the man they were interacting with who recorded the incident and shared it online, immediately catapulting the Millers into online infamy.

Who are Gary and Janice Cusack Miller? Virginia City, Nevada Couple Trending for Racist Behavior

Gary Miller and his wife, Janice Cusack, owners of the Firehouse Saloon bar in Virginia City, Nevada, are trending for all the wrong reasons.

The couple, originally from Minden, Nevada, are accused of a racist tirade against an African-American man who recorded the entire incident and shared it online.

During the exchange, which occurred during an Hot August nights event, Gary threatened the man about ‘hanging’, which evokes the racist Jim Crow past of the United States, a time during which white people could lynch any black man who went out of line.

The white man in the video, Gary, also called the Black man he was interacting with the n-word. Other white people around could also be seen laughing at the exchange and mocking the man recording the video.

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The Black man, Uncle Ricky on TikTok, shared the video with the caption “racism at its best, Virginia City, Nevada,”

He added: “This is what i had to go threw today!! Ive never felt so humiliating and disrespected in my life.”

Uncle Ricky tagged numerous news organizations and anti-racism organizations such as the NAACP to bring attention to his video.

@unclerickyd1 This is what i had to go threw today!! Ive never felt so humiliating and disrespected in my life. #racism at his best. @NAACP @ABC News @cnbc @CBS News @TizzyEnt @Attorney Ben Crump #fypシ゚viral @CNN @Fox News ♬ original sound – UncleRicky

The video quickly went viral and started an online search to discover the racist couple.

It did not take long for them to be outed as business owners, Gary Miller and his wife, Janice Cusack Miller, of Virginia City, Nevada. The Millers own the Firehouse Saloon bar which they had only recently purchased.

The video also elicited tons of reactions.

“OMG this is actually so scary, these people need to be on the news,” one person wrote on his TikTok.

Another comment read: “Omg I can see the evil in their eyes. I’m so sorry,”

Following the discovery of their identity, numerous social media users started flooding their business page on Yelp to leave them horrible reviews.

Virginia City officials were also forced to issue a statement denouncing their actions.

“Earlier this weekend, an incident occurred in which individuals were harassed during an event, and comments were made that were hateful and racist,” the statement said.

“We want to make it clear on behalf of the Virginia City Tourism Commission that we find this behavior abhorrent and inexcusable.

“Virginia City is an incredible historic town with vibrant events and a welcoming atmosphere. We stand wholly against any acts of hatred, racism, or violence,”

The conduct of the Millers has completely turned off social media users with many attacking them for being so backward and bringing shame on themselves.

As one commenter noted on Reddit: “If Virginia City is calling you racist you know you f*cked up,”