In a west Omaha parking lot, on the evening of June 6, 2025, the life of 17-year-old Zara Nacona Rose Sobansky, a White/Caucasian female, was tragically cut short. Just after 9 p.m., near Stokes Grill & Bar at 136th and California Streets, gunshots shattered the evening calm. Omaha police arrived to find a harrowing scene: Zara was inside a vehicle, and an 18-year-old male was on the ground nearby, both suffering from gunshot wounds.
Investigators quickly pieced together the devastating
sequence of events that had unfolded amidst the busy restaurant area. They determined that the incident was an apparent murder-suicide. The 18-year-old, identified as Tristan Doner, is believed to have shot Zara before taking his own life. The Omaha Police Department stated that Doner was the sole suspect and that they were not searching for anyone else in connection with the deaths. Consequently, no arrests were made.
Zara, known to her friends and family as "AJ," was a sophomore at Millard North High School. She was remembered as a bright and talented student, deeply involved in the arts. Her passion for show choir, forensics, poetry, and theater had left a lasting mark on her school community. In the wake of her violent death, Millard North High School brought in crisis support to help students and staff grapple with the sudden and profound loss of a vibrant young life. Family and friends painted a portrait of a joyful and honest teenager who brought heart to everything she did. Her death sent ripples of shock and grief through the Omaha community, leaving behind a legacy of a promising life ended far too soon.
