In the early morning hours of May 23, 2020, a dispute that began after a night of gambling tragically escalated, ending the life of 31-year-old Native American man Michael Whitemagpie. The fatal encounter unfolded in a Lincoln, Nebraska alley around 4:30 a.m. When police officers arrived, they discovered Whitemagpie suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Despite the efforts of friends and first responders at the scene, his life could not be saved.
The investigation into the shooting revealed a prior altercation between Whitemagpie and another man, Ryan Long, also 31. The two had been involved in a fight at a Lincoln hotel approximately an hour before the shooting. The conflict continued into the alley, where Long fired his weapon 16 times at Whitemagpie. Long would later claim he acted in self-defense, alleging that Whitemagpie had used a racial slur and approached him in an aggressive manner. Investigators collected evidence and conducted numerous interviews in the aftermath of the deadly shooting.
Ryan Long was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. During his trial, the prosecution argued that firing 16 shots was an act of rage, not self-defense. However, the jury ultimately convicted Long of the lesser charge of manslaughter, concluding that he had killed Whitemagpie without malice during a sudden quarrel. In addition to the manslaughter conviction, Long was found guilty of using a firearm to commit a felony. A judge subsequently sentenced him to a prison term of 49 to 60 years. Long will be eligible for parole after serving 27 years.
