A Nebraska man, identified as 74-year-old Billy Booth, opened fire on his neighbors, injuring seven people, including four children, before taking his own life. The incident occurred on Friday evening in the town of Crete. The victims, all believed to be of Hispanic descent, were among a group of approximately 15 people gathered at the residence at the time of the shooting.
The victims ranged in age from 3 to 43, with the majority of them being outside the house when the shooting took place. Following the incident, some of the victims were treated and released, while others continue to receive medical care in Lincoln and at Children’s Nebraska in Omaha. None of the injuries sustained are considered life-threatening.
Upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement discovered victims with gunshot wounds outside the residence and the suspect inside his own home. A shotgun was found nearby. Authorities have stated that there was no immediate dispute leading up to the shooting. However, Booth and the family had a history of disagreements, including issues over parking and other neighborhood nuisances.
According to the Crete Police, Booth had lodged several complaints about the neighborhood since 2021, primarily concerning driving behavior. Crete Police Chief Gary Young Jr. noted that these complaints were not necessarily related to the victims’ residence but were more about general neighborhood issues such as speeding cars, improper parking, and nuisance properties.
In one instance, the victims reported that Booth had made derogatory remarks to them, telling them to “go home” or “back to where they came from” and to “speak English.” The family chose not to escalate the matter at the time, and it was considered resolved.
Joshua Morales, a friend of one of the victims, told local media that he was aware of the previous incidents involving Booth. He expressed his belief that the shooting was racially motivated, stating that Booth had previously told his friend’s family to return to their country. Morales also revealed that his friend and his friend’s mother were among those shot, with the mother sustaining four gunshot wounds to her back.
The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation by the police.