A white Nebraska man characterized as reclusive and belligerent shot and wounded seven Guatemalan immigrants, and authorities have not ruled out racist motives.
Billy Booth, 74, opened fire with a shotgun from his home in Crete at 4:30 p.m. Friday, killing about 15 individuals, the majority of whom were in the yard.
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Booth committed suicide following the shootings. Four children, aged three to ten, among the related sufferers, are likely to recover.
The shootings shocked Crete, a diverse hamlet of around 7,000 people located 70 miles (110 kilometers) southwest of Omaha. The population is around 50% Hispanic and nearly 25% foreign-born.
Booth remained to himself for the most part, but when he did connect with his neighbors, he had a history of strife, according to the Omaha World Herald.
The family had previously complained to police that Booth had made an obscene gesture and instructed them to return to where they came from and “speak English,” Crete Police Chief Gary Young said on Saturday. According to him, the family declined to seek charges.
Investigators were attempting to ascertain the motive and had not ruled out a racial motive, he stated.
“The context to ‘go home’ and’speak English’ lends itself to that,” the chief of police stated.
Neighbors said Booth also had disagreements with white neighbors on his block.
“He hated everybody,” claimed Dave Hansen, who lives next door to Booth.
