In the quiet town of Superior, Nebraska, on October 21, 2021, a day of tragedy unfolded at the Agrex Inc. grain elevator, ending the life of 60-year-old Sandra "Sandy" Sue Nelson, a White female. A respected grain merchandiser at Agrex, Sandy was a familiar and cherished member of the community, known for her dedication to her family and her active involvement in local organizations. She had graduated from Superior High School in 1979 and furthered her education at Cloud County Community College before building a life and career in the area.
The peace of that Thursday afternoon was shattered when a recently terminated employee, Max Hoskinson, 61, of Superior, returned to the grain elevator with a handgun. In an act of workplace violence, Hoskinson opened fire, shooting three people. Sandra Nelson was fatally wounded at the scene. Another victim, 53-year-old Darin L. Koepke of Hadar, was critically injured and later succumbed to his wounds at a hospital in Lincoln. A third victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated and released from a local hospital.
In a dramatic turn of events, an Agrex employee retrieved a shotgun from an office and shot Hoskinson, ending the deadly rampage. Hoskinson was transported to a hospital in Superior where he was pronounced dead. The Nebraska State Patrol, in consultation with the Nuckolls County Attorney's Office and the Nebraska Attorney General's Office, announced that no charges would be filed against the employee who shot Hoskinson. The investigation concluded that the employee had acted to protect himself and others present during the attack. The incident left the small communities of Superior, Nebraska, and nearby Formoso, Kansas, where Sandra resided with her husband, in a state of shock and mourning.
