Seven people, including four children – all believed to be Hispanic – were shot and killed by a Nebraska man who had previously told them to “go back to where you come from” and “speak English,” according to police.
According to Nebraska State Police, suspect Billy Booth, 74, opened fire on a neighbor from his Crete home just before 7 p.m. Friday before turning the gun on himself and dying.
There were about 15 people inside and outside the home, but most of the victims were outside when they were shot. Three of the victims were adults between the ages of 22 and 43, and four were children between the ages of 3 and 10. police told KETV. and NBC News.
Some of the victims have been treated and released from the hospital. One is being treated in Lincoln and two are in the care of Children’s Nebraska in Omaha. All victims have non-life-threatening injuries.
All of the victims are believed to be Hispanic. police told NBC.
When police arrived on scene, they found the victim outside the residence suffering from a gunshot wound and the suspect inside the home, where a shotgun was found nearby.
Police said they do not believe there was an altercation immediately prior to the shooting, but Booth and his family had a history of altercations over parking and other nuisances, and there were reports the suspect “told them to go back to where they came from and speak English.”
Crete Police Chief Gary Young Jr. said at a press conference Saturday that Crete police have responded to “several complaints” in the neighborhood since 2021, most of which were from Booth regarding his “driving behavior in the neighborhood.”
“These issues are not necessarily related to the victim’s home, but include vehicles speeding through the neighborhood, improper parking, nuisance properties and quality of life issues,” Young said. “In one case, a victim reported the suspect gave them the middle finger and told them to ‘go home’ or ‘go back where you came from’ or ‘speak English.'”
Police said at the time the family decided not to pursue the matter further and the matter was resolved.
One of the victim’s friends, Joshua Morales, told KETV he knew of previous incidents involving neighbors and believes the shooting was racially motivated.
“[Booth] Probably said [the friend’s] “I told my parents to go back to their country, and that got in the way, and I think up until now, the shooter was just shooting up the house. I think it was just a racist thing,” Morales said. “So I think the guy who shot them was just a racist because he shot a Hispanic family and he told them to go back to their country.”
Morales said the gunman shot his friend and his mother, with his friend’s mother suffering four bullets in the back.
Police said the motive for the shooting is still under investigation.
