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. Multiple reports of an active shooter led law enforcement to the scene, where they discovered several victims inside a home. Officers were able to evacuate the victims to safety, with a total of seven individuals sustaining gunshot injuries.
The victims included four children aged 3 to 10 and three adults aged 22 to 43. As of Saturday afternoon, four patients have been treated and released from hospitals, while three victims remain under medical care.
Authorities confirmed that there was no verbal contact between the suspect and the victims leading up to the shooting. However, there was a prior history between the suspect and some of the victims' families, with complaints dating back to 2021 related to driving behavior and neighborhood disputes.
Earlier this year, there was an incident where the suspect reportedly made derogatory remarks towards the victims, but no legal action was pursued at that time. The police had been involved in previous interactions with the suspect due to complaints about neighborhood issues.
Crete Police Chief Gary Young Jr. mentioned that there could be a racial component to the prior complaints based on the context of the suspect's remarks. However, a definitive motive for the shooting has not yet been established, and the investigation is ongoing.
Colonel John A. Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, stated that all injuries were consistent with shotgun blast injuries, but fortunately, all victims are expected to survive. The tragic incident has left the community in shock, and authorities are working diligently to uncover the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
