On a cold December night in 2020, in Beatrice, Nebraska, a 26-year-old White/Caucasian man named Alexander Lane "Alex" Rader was shot and killed. The fatal incident, which occurred on December 30th, would unravel a complex story involving a personal relationship and lead to an unexpected legal outcome. Rader was found critically wounded outside a residence and later died at Beatrice Community Hospital.
The man responsible for the shooting was identified as Brandon Long, also 26 at the
time and a resident of the home where Rader was found. Long told police that he and his fianc e were inside their house with their two-year-old child when they heard noises outside. He claimed he went to investigate, armed with a handgun, and saw a figure standing next to his house wearing a face mask. Long stated that he was startled and fired a single shot. He also claimed that he did not initially recognize the man he had shot as Alexander Rader. It was later revealed that Rader and Long's fianc e were involved in a relationship, and Rader had gone to the house that night to check on her after she sent him a text message saying she and Long had argued earlier.
Brandon Long was arrested and initially charged with second-degree murder, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm within city limits. However, in December 2021, the case took a significant turn when Long pleaded no contest to the lesser charges of making terroristic threats and being a felon in possession of a deadly weapon. In exchange for his plea, the second-degree murder charge and another weapons count were dismissed.
In February 2022, Brandon Long was sentenced to six years of probation for his role in Rader's death, a decision that drew attention and sparked discussion. The judge acknowledged the loss of life but also pointed to the complexities of the case, including Long's claim of fear and the question of why Rader was at the home late at night. Long, a former employee of the Nebraska Department of Corrections with little prior criminal history, was deemed a low risk. As part of his probation, he was given credit for the 399 days he had already spent in custody.
