newsJuly 1, 2024
CRETE, Neb. (AP) — A white Nebraska man described as reclusive and confrontational shot and wounded seven neighbors who are Guatemalan immigrants, and investigators said they are not ruling out racist motives.
AP News, Associated Press
Alberto Bautista stands in the front yard where he and several other people were shot the day before in Crete, Neb. on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Alberto Bautista stands in the front yard where he and several other people were shot the day before in Crete, Neb. on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Damage to a vehicle window is seen on Saturday, June 29, 2024, after a Friday shooting in Crete, Neb., which sent several people to the hospital. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Damage to a vehicle window is seen on Saturday, June 29, 2024, after a Friday shooting in Crete, Neb., which sent several people to the hospital. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Boards are seen on the front door of the home of Bill Booth in Crete, Neb., on Saturday, June 29, 2024, the day after he was suspected of shooting several people. Booth was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound before law enforcement made contact with him (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Boards are seen on the front door of the home of Bill Booth in Crete, Neb., on Saturday, June 29, 2024, the day after he was suspected of shooting several people. Booth was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound before law enforcement made contact with him (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alberto Bautista holds the helmet his three-year-old grandson was wearing when he and several other people were shot the day before in Crete, Neb. on Saturday, June 29, 2024. The helmet shows marks from the shotgun blast. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Alberto Bautista holds the helmet his three-year-old grandson was wearing when he and several other people were shot the day before in Crete, Neb. on Saturday, June 29, 2024. The helmet shows marks from the shotgun blast. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)ASSOCIATED PRESS

CRETE, Neb. (AP) — A white Nebraska man described as reclusive and confrontational shot and wounded seven neighbors who are Guatemalan immigrants, and investigators said they are not ruling out racist motives.

About 15 people were at the victims’ home, mostly in the yard, when Billy Booth, 74, opened fire from his house in Crete with a shotgun around 4:30 p.m. Friday, officials said.

Booth killed himself after the shootings. The victims, who are related and include four children ages 3 to 10, are expected to survive.

The shootings shook Crete, a diverse community of about 7,000 residents about 70 miles (110 kilometers) southwest of Omaha. The population is about 50% Hispanic and almost 25% foreign-born.

Booth largely kept to himself but had a history of conflict with his neighbors when he did interact with them, the Omaha World-Herald reported.

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Police previously received a complaint from the family that Booth had made an obscene gesture and told them to go back to where they came from and “speak English,” Crete Police Chief Gary Young said Saturday. The family did not press charges, he said.

Investigators were trying to determine the motive and were not ruling out a racial motivation, he said.

“The context to ‘go home’ and ‘speak English’ lends itself to that,” the chief said.

Neighbors said Booth butted heads with white neighbors on his street, too.

“He hated everybody,” said Dave Hansen, whose home is next door to Booth’s.

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