In the quiet community of Bellevue, Nebraska, the life of a 35-year-old Caucasian woman named Brenda Marie Henderson was tragically cut short on December 13, 2018. The incident unfolded in her home on Hickory Circle, a place that should have been a sanctuary for her and her two sons, aged 17 and 11. In the early hours of that Thursday morning, around 1:15 a.m., Bellevue police responded to a report of a shooting at the residence.
Upon their arrival, they discovered Brenda Henderson suffering from a gunshot wound.
Henderson was immediately transported to the Nebraska Medical Center in extremely critical condition. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, she succumbed to her injuries. At the scene of the shooting, police arrested her 35-year-old domestic partner, David S. Clark. He was taken into custody and booked into the Sarpy County Jail. The initial charges against him included attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, use of a weapon to commit a felony, domestic assault, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Following Henderson's death, the charges were expected to be amended.
The investigation into the shooting revealed a history of domestic turbulence. Clark was already awaiting a jury trial for a previous incident that occurred on October 30, where police had been called to the same home and found Henderson with injuries. His criminal history also included a 2000 conviction for possession of a stolen firearm and receiving stolen property. In a later court proceeding, it was revealed that Clark had told police he was hearing voices on the night of the shooting.
Ultimately, David S. Clark pleaded guilty to manslaughter and two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. In December 2021, he was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years in prison for the killing of his longtime girlfriend. The tragic event left two sons without their mother and a community mourning the loss of a woman described as a loving mother and a dedicated assistant director at Bellevue University who enjoyed helping others pursue their education.
