Omaha Police Probe Road Rage Shooting That Hospitalized 1, Put 1 in Custody

Q: What sparked a midnight disturbance to rapidly escalate into a violent road rage shooting across Omaha streets?

It appears the violence was sparked by a disturbance between people in two vehicles that quickly turned into road rage and gunfire as they drove east on West Center Road. Police say the incident began with officers being sent around 12:30 a.m. to a disturbance near 90th Street and Bedford Avenue. While they were on the way, the call was upgraded to shots fired and then to a shooting. Investigators later tied the case to two eastbound vehicles near 90th Street and West Center Road, where shots were fired just west of the intersection. The available reporting does not identify the exact trigger for the argument — such as a traffic maneuver, verbal confrontation, or prior dispute — only that it escalated rapidly into a shooting in traffic. Officers found shell casings at the scene and later located another involved vehicle near 84th Street and West Center Road. One 31-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound and was hospitalized with injuries described as serious but non-life-threatening in later reporting. Another person was struck by shrapnel but did not seek treatment. Police detained and booked a second man on assault and weapons charges, and they said there is no ongoing threat to the public. So, what is known is that a late-night disturbance between motorists escalated into a road rage exchange involving gunfire; what specifically set off that confrontation has not yet been publicly established by investigators.

Q: Why was one of the vehicles involved in the shooting mysteriously abandoned near a local Goodwill?

It is not known from the available reporting why the vehicle was abandoned near the Goodwill. Police said only that a second vehicle believed to be involved in the road rage shooting was later found near the Goodwill at about 84th Street and West Center Road. The public reporting does not explain who left it there, whether the driver fled on foot, switched vehicles, or abandoned it because it was disabled or linked to the shooting. What is confirmed is that investigators tied the case to two eastbound vehicles, recovered shell casings, found a 31-year-old man with a gunshot wound, and took another man into custody. That suspect was later booked on two counts of second-degree assault and one count of using a weapon to commit a felony. So the abandonment is part of the investigation, but the reason remains unexplained in the information released so far. Police have said there are no suspects at large and are still asking anyone with information to contact Omaha Crime Stoppers.

3 articles · Updated · WOWT · Aug 10

One person was hospitalized in serious condition after a road rage shooting near 90th Street and West Center Road, and police said another person was taken into custody.
Omaha police said early reports indicated shots were fired between two eastbound vehicles west of the 90th and Center intersection.
No suspects remain at large, but investigators asked anyone with information to contact Omaha Crimestoppers, use the P3 Tips app or submit tips online.
West Center Road was blocked at 96th Street for about two hours as officers processed the scene and continued the investigation.