In the small, tight-knit community of Ashland, Nebraska, a shocking act of violence shattered the local peace on a late spring afternoon. On June 5, 2026, 67-year-old Robert "Bob" Haswell Sr., a man known in his community as "Drywall Bob," was shot and killed inside his own home. The Saunders County Sheriff's Office received a call about a shooting at a residence located near 17th and Dawes Streets at approximately 4:30 p.m.
When they arrived, they found a tense and tragic scene unfolding.
Inside the house was the alleged shooter, who was identified as the victim's own son, 31-year-old Robert Haswell Jr. A standoff ensued as law enforcement began to negotiate with the younger Haswell over the phone. After a period of hours, he eventually emerged from the house unarmed and surrendered to the authorities peacefully. Upon entering the home, deputies discovered Robert Haswell Sr. deceased, having sustained at least one gunshot wound. The community, where such violent incidents are exceedingly rare, was left reeling from the news that a man had been killed, allegedly at the hands of his own child.
Following his surrender, Robert Haswell Jr. was taken into custody and arrested. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and the use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. He is currently being held without bond at the Saunders County Jail as he awaits a preliminary hearing. The investigation into the motive and the specific events that led to the fatal shooting is ongoing, leaving a family and a community to grapple with the devastating loss of a beloved local figure and the disturbing nature of the alleged crime. The case stands as a stark and tragic event in the history of the small Nebraskan town.
