In the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the quiet streets of Beatrice, Nebraska, were disturbed by the sounds of screaming and loud bangs. Responding to these reports, police discovered 37-year-old Joshua May lying in a grassy area near 9th and Summit Streets. He was suffering from what was later determined to be three gunshot wounds. Despite being able to speak with officers when they arrived, May's condition was critical.
He was rushed to Beatrice Community Hospital by ambulance, but he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
Investigators believe that the shooting occurred about a block south of where Joshua May was found, and that he had managed to walk some distance before collapsing. The investigation quickly led authorities to a suspect, 31-year-old Justis Barnhouse of Beatrice. A multi-agency effort involving the Beatrice Police Department, the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the U.S. Marshals Service tracked Barnhouse to a vehicle near Waverly. He was arrested during a traffic stop in the mid-afternoon of the same day. A handgun was recovered at the scene of the arrest. A female was also in the vehicle with Barnhouse at the time.
Following his arrest, Justis Barnhouse was charged with second-degree murder, use of a weapon to commit a felony, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. During his initial court appearance via video from the Gage County Jail, a judge ordered him to be held without bond or bail, citing the seriousness of the charges, Barnhouse's past criminal record of violent and assaultive behavior, and the risk that he might flee. At the time of the shooting, Barnhouse was already out on bond for a separate case involving charges of third-degree assault with bodily injury, assault by strangulation, and second-degree false imprisonment.
Joshua Lee May, originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, was remembered for his kind heart, strong spirit, and down-to-earth personality. His family and friends recall his sense of humor and his loyalty, and how he always showed up for the people he loved. His unexpected death has left his loved ones to navigate a future without him. Meanwhile, the legal proceedings against Justis Barnhouse are ongoing, with his next court appearance scheduled for May 11th. During a court hearing, Barnhouse was admonished by the judge for cursing, at which point the defendant stated, "the truth will come out." If convicted on the murder charge alone, he faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years to life in prison.
