In the early hours of October 1, 2023, a birthday party near 24th and Decatur Streets in Omaha, Nebraska, turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 16-year-old LaMarintae Swift, a Black male. Just before 2:30 a.m., a blue Kia Optima was seen on surveillance video driving past the gathering before making a U-turn and returning. Gunfire erupted from the vehicle, striking Swift in the torso and injuring five other individuals.
The Kia, which was later discovered to have been
reported stolen, was found hours after the shooting. A shell casing recovered from inside the car was linked by investigators to the crime scene. This discovery became a crucial piece of evidence in the ensuing homicide investigation. The vehicle was subsequently returned to its owner.
Omaha police detectives identified three suspects in the deadly mass shooting: 19-year-old William Brown, 17-year-old William Willis, and 18-year-old Javaris Hesseline. According to a detective's testimony, evidence connecting the three to the crime included fingerprint evidence and cell phone data that placed them in the stolen vehicle and near the scene at the time of the shooting. Further investigation revealed that approximately 30 minutes after the shooting, the suspects allegedly stole another vehicle.
During a search of Brown's home, police recovered two guns and two phones. Pictures found on the phones reportedly showed Brown and Hesseline posing with the same type of gun used in the shooting. While investigators have been able to link the suspects to the crime through this collection of evidence, it has not been determined who specifically fired the shot that killed LaMarintae Swift. The weapon used in the homicide has not been recovered, with investigators believing Brown may have sold it. Brown, Willis, and Hesseline are all set to face trial on charges of first-degree murder and assault.
