IHOP SHOOTING: Sencion recalled as 'quiet, nice'

As FBI agents combed through Mi Pueblo Meat Market on Wednesday morning, regulars at the store expressed disbelief that someone they knew to be friendly and quiet could be responsible for seemingly indiscriminate and brutal killings.

Authorities identified Eduardo Sencion, 32, as the gunman in Tuesday morning's shooting spree at the IHOP in Carson City that left five people dead, including Sencion.

Sencion could regularly be found working the cash register at the meat market, said Raul Cabagnot, who lives across the street from the store at 3885 Pioneer Trail near Lake Tahoe Boulevard.

"I said, 'Oh, my God, I can't believe it. It's my neighbor,'" Cabagnot recalled about seeing Sencion's picture on the television Tuesday night.

Cabagnot said Sencion "didn't talk," but never caused any problems or acted out of the ordinary.

More than a dozen FBI agents served a search warrant at the market Wednesday morning, removing several paper and plastic bags full of property as well as what appeared to be two computer towers.

South Shore FBI Agent Chris Campion declined to say what agents were looking for specifically, referring comments to the FBI's Reno office.

A sign on Mi Pueblo's door Wednesday said the market would not open.

About 11 a.m. Wednesday, Arlene Gatto, a Boston resident who is on vacation at the South Shore, hung a small sign near the top of the market's door. With multi-colored markers, Gatto had written: "In our prayers. Always keep love in your heart. Prayers with the families in my thoughts."

She left a pen attached to the sign, encouraging people to leave their prayers for the families of everyone involved in the shooting.

"He seemed so gentle, just very gentle," Gatto said about her brief encounter with Sencion at Mi Pueblo on Sunday. "But my heart goes out to anybody that has such anger issues in him."

South Lake Tahoe resident Manny Origenes said the store's employees, including Sencion, were always welcoming.

"All the guys who worked in that store are very friendly," Origenes said.

Mi Pueblo patron Doug Faught said he didn't know Sencion personally, but remarked about never seeing anything unusual about the Carson City resident, whose family owns the market.

"They were just normal damn people," Faught said. "Maybe he just snapped. I don't know."

Jose Briseno, who works at the nearby Americana Village, said he knew Sencion from the shop and described him as "quiet and nice." Briseno said he was shocked when he read of Sencion's involvement in the shootings.

"I'd never imagine he'd do that," Briseno said.