Anhil David Mirabal Hernandez, 42, male, Hispanic/Latino, died on May 27, 2025, after being shot in the parking lot of the Walmart at 818 E. 23rd St. in Columbus, Nebraska. Around 6:20 p.m., officers arrived to find Anhil David Mirabal Hernandez, 42, male, on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest; they rendered aid until medics transported him to Columbus Community Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Witnesses reported the shooter left the scene immediately after the gunfire.
Shortly after the shooting, police say a suspect arrived at the Columbus Police Department and surrendered. Investigators identified him as 25-year-old Manuel Alejandro Mesa Cabrera, the stepson of Anhil David Mirabal Hernandez, 42, male. Detectives determined the fatal encounter occurred in the store's parking lot and that the family relationship connected the two men.
Authorities booked Manuel Alejandro Mesa Cabrera into the Platte County Detention Facility and later filed charges. Prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony. Investigators searched his vehicle and reported finding a 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun in the glove compartment, evidence they say is tied to the killing of Anhil David Mirabal Hernandez, 42, male.
Police and local outlets documented the case in the days after the shooting, noting the time, location, and the rapid identification of both the victim and the suspect. Public records list the victim as Anhil David Mirabal Hernandez, 42, male, and confirm the May 27, 2025, date of death in Columbus, Nebraska.
