Nebraska authorities are currently investigating a tragic shooting incident that occurred in Crete, involving four children and three adults. The suspect, identified as a 74-year-old neighbor named Billy Booth, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident took place on Friday afternoon in the 1200 block of Crestline Drive in Crete.
According to reports, multiple 911 calls were received about an active shooter situation, with officers arriving to the sound of ongoing gunfire. Upon entering the scene, they discovered several victims inside a home and identified the source of the gunfire coming from a house across the street. A total of seven individuals were injured in the shooting, including four children aged 3 to 10 and three adults aged 22 to 43.
The victims, all of Guatemalan descent, have since been released from area hospitals after receiving treatment for their injuries. A SWAT team was deployed and later found the suspect deceased in a nearby home, with a shotgun located near the body. Authorities have stated that there was no verbal contact between the suspect and the victims leading up to the shooting.
Prior to the incident, there had been complaints against the suspect regarding driving behavior and neighborhood disturbances. One report earlier this year mentioned the suspect making derogatory remarks towards the victims, prompting police involvement. While the motive behind the shooting is still under investigation, authorities are considering the possibility of a racial component based on past interactions between the suspect and the victims.
Despite the severity of the injuries sustained, authorities are optimistic that all victims will recover. The Nebraska State Patrol has not yet classified the incident as a hate crime and continues to gather information to determine the full circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
