7 shot, including 4 kids, by elderly neighbor who had told them to ‘go back to where they came from’: cops
Summary
On Friday evening in Crete, Nebraska, a grisly shooting unfolded when an elderly man opened fire on his neighbors, injuring seven, including four children. The suspect, identifed as 74-year-old Billy Booth, had previously expressed racially charged sentiments telling these neighbors to “go back to where they came from” and to “speak English,” according to police reports.
The Incident
Billy fired shots from inside his residence before fatally turning the gun on himself, Nebraska State Patrol stated. There were approximately 15 people present at the time of the shooting, mostly outdoors, when they became his targets. Three of the victims were adults aged 22 to 43 and four were children, aged 3 to 10. The victims were rushed to different hospitals for treatment and are believed to all be of Hispanic descent.
The Aftermath
Upon arrival, police discovered victims suffering gunshot wounds outside the residence and also found the suspect within his home, deceased from self-inflicted gunshot. Interestingly, police believe there was no immediate dispute leading to the incident but Billy and the family did have prior disagreements, including petty disputes over parking and other nuisances.
A history of complaints had been made by the accused since 2021 about driving behavior in the neighborhood and other quality-of-life issues, according to Crete Police Chief Gary Young Jr. The victims themselves had reported incidents where the suspect had used offensive language, telling them to, ‘Go home’ or ‘back to where they came from,’ and to ‘speak English.’
In an interview with friend of the victims, Joshua Morales, he shed more light on the suspicious incidents leading up to the shooting. He revealed that Billy had conflict with the Hispanic family, telling the parents to return to their country. A distressing racially charged motive is being suspected, however, official motivations leading to the shooting are still under police investigation.
Conclusion
The incident is a terrifying reminder of the impact of racial prejudice and the potential escalation of neighborly disputes. It also highlights critical issues of gun control and mental health in the country. Police investigations are ongoing to establish a comprehensive understanding of the motivations behind this tragic incident.
