Police say criminal illegal alien injured 4 officers in Nebraska gas station shootout

The equipped fishy accused of wounding aggregate officers successful a state presumption shootout aft allegedly firing connected a 61-year-old antheral successful an earlier, seemingly random shooting has been identified arsenic an amerciable migrant and convicted felon, authorities revealed Thursday. 

Officials said Salvadoran nationalist Juan Melgar-Ayala, 28, injured 4 officers astatine a QuikTrip successful Omaha, Nebraska, connected Wednesday earlier being killed astatine the country by responding officers. Melgar-Ayala was reportedly connected the tally aft an earlier shooting astatine a vicinity market store that near a 61-year-old antheral injured. Police said the fishy had nary known motive oregon transportation to the victim.

"Juan Melgar-Ayala, a convicted felon successful our state illegally from El Salvador, started a shootout with Omaha constabulary this week – and paid the price," Gov. Jim Pillen said Friday.

Court records bespeak Melgar-Ayala had a past of felony burglary convictions successful Douglas County, according to section media KETV. In 2021, helium reportedly entered no-contest pleas to 2 burglary charges tied to a bid of concern break-ins and thefts. He besides admitted guilt successful aggregate traffic-related cases involving driving without a valid licence oregon impervious of insurance, the outlet said.

OMAHA BYSTANDER FLEES GAS STATION BATHROOM MOMENTS BEFORE ARMED MAN FIRES ON OFFICERS

Suspect points a weapon wrong a restroom astatine a QuikTrip successful Omaha, Nebraska, connected Dec. 3, 2025. (@TeamPillen/X)

"Detectives are continuing to analyse however helium obtained the handgun utilized successful some convulsive incidents," the Omaha Police Department said. "Family members person reported helium suffered from intelligence health-related issues."

Authorities said six responding officers chased Melgar-Ayala to a QuikTrip, wherever the fishy instantly ran into the men’s restroom wearing a look mask. Another bystander was reportedly wrong the restroom earlier being rescued. The fishy fired astatine slightest 16 rounds and injured 4 officers earlier being fatally shot, according to the officials.

Authorities released the identities of the officers, who sustained injuries by either gunfire oregon shrapnel. Sgt. Emilio Luna sustained a gunshot coiled to his foot; Detective Brock Rengo suffered a grazing gunshot coiled to his leg; Detective Jordan Brandt sustained a gunshot coiled to his leg; and Detective Christopher Brown suffered a shrapnel wounded to his foot, the constabulary said. Detective Kyle Graber and Sgt. Jonathon Holtrop were reportedly not injured successful the exchange. 

"Thank God the OPD officers changeable by Melgar-Ayala look non-life-threatening injuries," Pillen said. "The men and women of instrumentality enforcement are heroes — and support america each day."

ICE NABS 3-TIME DEPORTED ILLEGAL ALIEN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER: 'GOOD RIDDANCE'

(From apical left) Detective Jordan Brandt, Sgt. Jonathan Holtrop, Detective Kyle Graber, Detective Chris Brown, Detective Brock Rengo and Sgt. Emilio Luna responded to a shooting astatine a QuikTrip successful Omaha, Nebraska, connected Dec. 3, 2025. (Omaha Police Officers Association)

Prior to the shootout astatine the state station, Melgar-Ayala allegedly opened occurrence connected Michael Kasper, 61, astatine the vicinity market store Phil’s Foodway. Kasper was reportedly grabbing a buying cart erstwhile Melgar-Ayala exited his ain conveyance and began firing a handgun, striking him aggregate times.

Investigators recovered 15 ammunition casings from the parking lot, and Kasper was hospitalized successful superior information but is expected to survive, the constabulary said. 

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Omaha constabulary investigating an incidental astatine a QuikTrip state station, that injured 4 officers and near the fishy dormant successful Omaha, Neb., connected Dec. 3, 2025.  (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)

Following the convulsive series of events, Pillen criticized what helium described arsenic failures successful national borderline policy, saying the "lax Biden-era borderline information policy" has allowed unsafe criminals into the state.