Omaha teen allegedly brought loaded, stolen guns to community center

Lina PortmanMay 31, 2024

0 3 minutes read

Court documents show a 17-year-old boy faces juvenile felony charges after allegedly bringing a loaded, stolen gun to a community center in northwest Omaha. Investigators say during a disagreement at the Saddlebrook Community Center, the teen showed the gun to other people and threatened them. . The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says it happened after a fight at a basketball game. “The suspect showed he had a gun in his bag and then made some sort of statement like 'let's go outside so there won't be any gunshots inside,'” said Captain Eric Sellers. Sellers said the teen left before they arrived. But less than an hour later, their special operations group found him in the Irvington neighborhood and arrested him. “Obviously he didn't shoot, he left, there was no activity there. “That gun on someone or a crowd? Luckily we were able to get the gun and him off the street before that happened,” Sellers said. New court documents show the teen avoided being charged as an adult in just four months. He will be 18 in September. He was enrolled at the Douglas County Youth Center. Sellers says it's unclear how much time he spends there. “The juvenile system is just a little bit different, so it's not always as clear cut. You know, they're really set up to try to rehabilitate and give them a second chance,” he said. declared. Deputies say the loaded handgun the teen brought to the basketball game was a stolen firearm. Among other charges, the teen faces one count of making terroristic threats and using a firearm to commit a crime. “He may have stopped something from happening. Although he left the scene, he certainly could have returned,” Sellers said. Sellers credits the patrol deputy who responded to the call and the Special Operations Group, a new unit within DCSO, to proactively stop and mitigate violence before it happens. “For law enforcement to be proactive, be there, be seen and do everything they can to get as many guns off the street as possible. That goes a long way in protecting the public,” Sellers said. The teen will have a preliminary hearing in juvenile court in two weeks. Click here for the latest headlines. from KETV NewsWatch 7

OMAHA, Neb. —

Court documents show a 17-year-old boy faces juvenile felony charges after allegedly bringing a loaded, stolen gun to a community center in northwest Omaha.

Investigators say during an argument at the Saddlebrook Community Center, the teen showed the gun to other people and threatened them. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says it happened after a fight at a basketball game.

“The suspect showed he had a gun in his bag and then made some sort of statement like 'let's go outside so there won't be any gunshots inside,'” said Captain Eric Sellers.

Sellers said the teen left before they arrived. But less than an hour later, their special operations group found him in the Irvington neighborhood and arrested him.

“Obviously he didn't shoot, he left, there was no activity there. But what could have happened? Would he be willing to shoot that gun at someone? 'one or a crowd? Luckily we were able to get the gun and him off the street before that happened,” Sellers said.

New court documents show the teen avoided being charged as an adult in just four months. He will be 18 in September.

He was enrolled at the Douglas County Youth Center. Sellers says it's unclear how much time he spends there.

“The juvenile system is just a little bit different, so it's not always as clear cut. You know, they're really set up to try to rehabilitate and give them a second chance,” he said .

Deputies say the loaded handgun the teen brought to the basketball game was a stolen firearm. Among other charges, the teen faces one count of making terroristic threats and using a firearm to commit a crime.

“He may have stopped something from happening. Even if he left the scene, he certainly could have come back,” Sellers said.

Sellers credits the patrol deputy who responded to the call and the Special Operations Group, a new unit within DCSO, for proactively stopping and mitigating the violence before it happened.

“Law enforcement needs to be proactive, get out there, be seen and do everything they can to get as many guns off the street as possible. goes a long way in protecting the public,” Sellers said.

The teen will have a preliminary hearing in juvenile court in two weeks.

Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7