A Nebraska man, identified as Billy Booth, 74, shot seven people, including four children believed to be Hispanic, according to police reports. The incident occurred in Crete just before 7pm on Friday, with Booth later fatally shooting himself, the Nebraska State Patrol confirmed.
Most of the victims, including three adults aged 22 to 43 and four children aged three to ten, were outside the residence when the shooting took place. Some victims have been treated and released, while others are receiving care in Lincoln and at Children’s Nebraska in Omaha. Fortunately, none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Police recovered a shotgun at the scene and found Booth inside his home alongside victims with gunshot wounds outside. Authorities stated there was no immediate dispute leading up to the shooting, but Booth and the family had a history of conflicts, including disagreements over parking and other neighborhood issues.
Crete Police Chief Gary Young Jr. explained that since 2021, the police had responded to several complaints from Booth regarding neighborhood driving behavior and parking concerns, though these issues were not directly linked to the victims’ residence. Police also noted a prior incident where Booth allegedly made derogatory remarks to the victims, telling them to “go back to where they came from” and “speak English.”
Joshua Morales, a friend of one of the victims, recalled previous confrontations involving Booth and expressed his belief that the shooting was racially motivated. Morales mentioned that Booth had targeted his friend’s family in the past, leading up to the tragic shooting.
The investigation into the motive behind the shooting is ongoing, according to authorities.